China, Russia plan Mars mission

China and Russia have signed a space agreement to launch a joint mission to Mars in 2009. The agreement, between the China National Space Administration and the Russian Federal Space Agency, will allow a small Chinese satellite to take off on a Russian rocket, AFP reported. During his three-day visit to Russia, Chinese President Hu Jintao expressed hopes for China to launch a lunar exploration satellite some time this year as part of a program that aims to place an unmanned vehicle on the moon by 2012.