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This book is about China´s ambitions in its most complex and internationally visible space endeavor, namely its human space exploration programme. It provides a comprehensive reflection on China s strategic direction and objectives in space, including in particular those set forth in its human spaceflight programme and analyses the key domestic and external factors affecting the country´s presumed manned lunar ambitions. The objective of the book is to disentangle the opportunities and challenges China s space ambitions are creating for other spacefaring nations and for Europe in particular. It therefore includes an in-depth analysis of possible European postures towards China in space exploration and seeks to stimulate a debate on future space strategies in the broader context of world politics.

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Introduction.- China´s space program: Why the moon?- China´s way to the moon.- China and the moon: endogenous conditioning factors.- China, the moon and the world.- Europe and China in space: constraints, opportunities and options.- Epilogue.

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