Private investors welcome in China's lunar programs

China will accept private investment in its mission to put a man on the moon, AFP reported. The China National Space Administration said funding would be open to "competent institutions and enterprises" that include scientific research organs, universities and private companies. Beijing plans to have a lunar rover on the moon by 2012 and to have a Taikonaut walking the lunar surface by 2020. It also wants a space station orbiting the Earth by 2020. China's space program launched its first lunar orbiter, the Chang'e 1, recently. Japan and India are also developing their space programs, creating the impression of an Asian space race among the three countries.