Teaching Comparative

Policy and the moon

How about some speculation as a beginning for discussion that should reveal some depth of understanding about Chinese government and politics?

What is described in this BBC article is the implementation of policy.

The questions for discussion are

• What are the policies?
• What are the motivations for the policies?
• What forces in the highest levels of Party/government policy making favored and opposed the policies?
• Why?

China confirms Moon probe in 2007

"China will launch its first lunar probe this year, and expects to be able to land a man on the Moon within 15 years, Huang Chunping (pictured at left below), a senior space official has confirmed...

"The probe will provide 3D images of the Moon, survey the lunar landscape, study lunar microwaves and estimate the thickness of the Moon's soil...

"The Moon exploration programme includes a planned lunar fly-by in 2007, a 'soft landing' in 2012, return of lunar samples by 2017, and landing an astronaut on the Moon within 15 years...

"Mr Huang also said China would launch its third manned spaceflight, Shenzhou VII, next year, with three astronauts on board. They will attempt the Chinese programme's first space walk..."


The Xinhua report on the space program was Expert: China to launch first lunar orbiter this year

"China will launch its first lunar exploration satellite, Chang'e I, in the latter half of this year, a leading Chinese aerospace expert said Tuesday.

"The satellite will be raised into space by a Long March 3-A carrier rocket, Huang Chunping, former commander-in-cheif of the launch vehicle system of the country's manned space mission, told Xinhua.

"The orbiter will provide 3D images of the moon's surface, probe the distribution of 14 usable elements on the moon, study lunar microwaves and estimate the thickness of the moon's soil...

"China's moon exploration program will be carried out in three stages. The orbiter will be followed by a remote-controlled lunar rover. In the third phase, a module will drill out a chunk of the moon and bring it back to Earth."



And, by the way...

Is there any connection between the Chinese space program and the announcement in a Xinhua report that "No new internet bars allowed to open in 2007?"

"China will not approve the opening of new internet bars in 2007, according to a directive issued by 14 government departments including the Ministry of Culture, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce and the Ministry of Information Industry.

"'In 2007, local governments must not sanction the opening of new internet bars. The construction of bars that have received planning approval prior to the issuance of this notice must be completed by June 30, 2007,' the notice said.

"There are currently about 113,000 Internet bars in China, according to the Ministry of Information Industry..."

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Labels: China, pedagogy, policy

posted by Ken Wedding @ 9:34 AM