The John Batchelor Show Hotel Mars, Wednesday, 8-20-5

John Batchelor and I welcomed Rick Fisher back to the program to discuss China's space program, focusing on the Long March 10 and 9 rockets. Rick explained that the Long March 10, which recently passed a static test, is designed to transport cargo and astronauts to the moon, while the Long March 9, similar in size to SpaceX's Starship, is intended for lunar missions and eventual Mars expeditions. David asked about China’s funding of their space program given report of Chinese economic problems. Rick noted that China's space program is a priority for the Communist Party due to its strategic importance. He suggested that the Chinese government may prioritize space exploration over other areas due to its focus on maintaining power. Rick also outlined a timeline for China’s lunar program. Rick was also asked about their work on human spaceflight medical challenges plus their lunar settlement plans, if any. You might be surprised by what our guest had to say about their lunar development settlement plans/program.