In a darkened auditorium some 250 young Chinese sat spellbound in a projector's otherworldly blue glow, listening to the father of China's lunar programme chart their country's once and future voyages in the final frontier.
While the US retreats from manned space exploration, China is seeking to establish itself as an ascending superpower, in the same way that the US and Soviet Union did when they alone dominated global politics.
Colourful maps of interplanetary flight paths and photos of the moon's craggy surface taken by China's two previous rover missions, Chang'e-1 and Chang'e-2, illuminated the screen in Beijing.
Then pictures of China's latest rover, which made its soft-landing last Saturday, and finally, another image, this time a mock-up: an astronaut standing on the moon, proudly planting a red Chinese flag in the lunar soil.
"We will send a Chinese astronaut to the moon," Ouyang Ziyuan told the rapt audience at the event, organised by China's popular science website Guokr.
"The Communist Party Central Committee strongly encourages us to go even beyond the moon, and China is already capable of deep space exploration," said the 78-year-old former chief scientist of the lunar programme.
"We will explore the whole solar system."
Ouyang's impassioned presentation, and the pride and wonderment with which the 20-something crowd greeted it, underscored the significance of the programme.
For many in China, while their country's steady progress into space is a technical achievement, it also signifies something much greater.
China's boom of the last 30 years has made it the world's second-largest economy, and it is increasingly seeking geopolitical heft of a similar stature. The military-run space programme fits into that effort, specialists say.
"For China, it represents two things," said Maurizio Falanga, executive director of the International Space Science Institute Beijing and one of a growing number of Western space scientists seeking to strengthen collaboration with China.
"One, they're able to do it by themselves; they have the technology and they know how to do it," he said.
"It's also to be proud of the nation, to be proud to be Chinese, that 'we are on the same level with the US now, or the Russians... and start to become a world power'."
China first sent a human into space 10 years ago, and its ambitious future plans include a permanent orbiting space station to be completed by 2020.
Around the same time, the International Space Station operated by the US, Russia, Japan, Canada and Europe will go out of service.
The US has retired its remaining space shuttles without a replacement, and scaled back NASA funding.
Its activities have proceeded only "in fits and starts", noted Joan Johnson-Freese, professor of national security affairs at the US Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.
"They're (China) trying to set up a programme that's long-duration, as opposed to the United States where we went to the moon, we did it very quickly, we said, 'Been there, done that'," she said.
Ken Pounds, a professor emeritus at the University of Leicester who has spearheaded British space research, said China's progress in space represented an "absolute transformation" in its stature over the last 40 years.
"When I was young, the US programme dominated everything, and we in the UK and in Europe tended to look at collaboration with the Americans as the first way to go," said Pounds.
"I think the situation is now different. I don't think there's any particular preference on who to work with, and in fact there are very significant collaborations with China," he said.
Saturday's successful soft-landing of the Chang'e-3 probe and Jade Rabbit rover represented a feat that both the US and former Soviet Union had accomplished decades earlier.
Yet for those within the Chinese space programme, the mission held particular import after the intentional crash-landing of their first moon probe, Chang'e-1, in 2009.
Such "hard landings" are routine in international space exploration, and it had already snapped enough photos to piece together China's first full map of the lunar surface.
"When Chang'e-1 crash-landed, we were really heartbroken," Ouyang said.
"It was the crystallisation of the collective labour of a billion people. In order to complete its final mission, it died the cruellest death. It died as a martyr."
The probe may have come decades after those of China's rivals, but the map it produced was "the best in the world" at the time, he added.
"The things that others have done, we're going to do better than them," he said. "Moreover, there are still some things others haven't done yet. China is going to go do them."
AFP
Wed Dec 18 2013
China vows to send an astronaut to the moon soon - AFPpic
Who is Prabowo Subianto, incoming president of Indonesia?
A wealthy ex-general with ties to Indonesia's popular outgoing president and its dictatorial past, looks set to be its next leader.
Iran's supreme leader says Hamas leader's death will not halt 'Axis of Resistance'
The "Axis of Resistance", built up with years of Iranian support, includes Hamas, the Lebanese Hezbollah group, the Houthi movement in Yemen, and various Shi'ite groups in Iraq and Syria.
Putin says Russia willing to seek compromises between Iran and Israel
Russia is ready to help seek compromises between arch-foes Israel and Iran, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday, saying these would be difficult but possible.
What proposals will Russia push at the BRICS summit?
The proposal is also to establish a BRICS reinsurance company to allow uninterrupted shipment of goods and key commodities between members.
Indonesia's free meals plan in the spotlight as Prabowo readies for office
Prabowo calls the programme one of the main drivers of economic growth, eventually set to add an estimated 2.5 million jobs.
Astro AWANI's revamped English news website, AWANI International, launches on Oct 21
Astro AWANI's revamped English platform delivers in-depth global news and expert analysis to keep you informed on key developments.
Israeli strikes kill 33 people in Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza, medics say
Residents of Jabalia said Israeli tanks had reached the heart of the camp after pushing through suburbs and residential districts.
Liam Payne's ex-partner calls for media restraint after 'painful' death
Cheryl Tweedy used her statement to urge the media to remember they had a seven-year-old son, Bear, who could read the reports.
Analysts: Indonesia's strong MoF leadership team to boost investor confidence
Sri Mulyani Indrawati as head of Indonesia's Ministry of Finance is expected to instil confidence among investors.
Biden offers both a carrot and a stick to Israel as his term nears an end
Israel has frequently resisted US advice and has caused political difficulties for the Biden administration.
Putin says BRICS will generate most of global economic growth
Russian President Vladimir Putin will host a summit of the group in the city of Kazan on Oct. 22-24.
ISIS Malaysia's perspective of Budget 2025
An excellent rakyat-centric budget under the overarching principle of a caring and humane economy.
Budget 2025: Record increase in STR, SARA aid initiatives
The government will provide a significant boost to the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) initiatives next year.
Budget 2025: EPF contributions to be made mandatory for foreign workers – PM Anwar
The government plans to make it compulsory for all non-citizen workers to contribute to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).
What policies to expect from Indonesia's new President Prabowo
Prabowo will be open to foreign investment, his aide has said, such as by offering investors management of airports and sea ports.
Budget 2025: Govt allocates RM470 mil to empower women's participation in PMKS
The Women's Leadership Apprenticeship Program will be intensified as an effort to produce more female corporate personalities.
Israel sends more troops into north Gaza, deepens raid
Residents of Jabalia in northern Gaza said Israeli tanks had reached the heart of the camp, using heavy air and ground fire.
Indonesia ramps up security ahead of Prabowo's inauguration
Prabowo Subianto will be sworn in as Indonesia's president on Sunday with Vice President-elect, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, also taking office.
Immediate allocation of RM150 mil for local authorities, DID to tackle flash floods
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this allocation is intended to address the recent flash floods that hit the capital and several major towns.
Budget 2025: Sabah, Sarawak to continue receiving among highest allocations - PM
Sabah and Sarawak continues to be prioritised under Budget 2025, with allocations of RM6.7 billion and RM5.9 billion respectively.