China Unveils First Moon Photos From New Lunar Orbiter

The Chinese are going at it at break neck speed catching up to where the US are...I predict that the Chinese will be the first to put man on Mars...and I hope it's in my lifetime. While in the meantime the US are stalling and retracting (I'm an Aussie, not Chinese or a US hater..just an engineer that wants to see progress).

Let me preface by stating that I applaud the efforts of China in taking their first steps exploring off-world and I welcome their contributions.

Not wishing in the least to offend, but I don't see much (this included) coming out of China which indicates actual innovation. They're extraordinarily skilled at imitation and low-tech workarounds - and that certainly has its benefits. But seeing their work on a daily basis I'm extremely doubtful that they'll be truly leading the way in any technological endevor in our generation. I hear that they're trying to address this shortcoming, but it'll take time.

However if anybody can figure out a way to send a crew to Mars in a bathtub using a cute panda-shaped shower nozzle for propulsion, it'll be China.