China Outer Space Science, Technology and Explorations: News & Updates
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JSCh
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The Sixth Academy of CASC successfully developed China's first newton-class Hall-effect thruster航天科技集团六院研制成功我国首款牛级霍尔推力器
中国航天科技集团六院 Today
近日，航天科技集团六院801所研制的我国首款20千瓦大功率霍尔推力器成功完成点火试验，点火时间累计达8小时，点火次数超过30次。该推力器的成功研发，实现了我国霍尔电推力器推力从毫牛级向牛级的跨越。
▲ 20千瓦大功率霍尔推力器点火
试验过程中，推力器点火可靠，运行平稳，工作参数稳定，实测推力1牛，比冲3068秒，效率大于70%，性能指标达到国际先进水平。
▲ 部分霍尔推力器产品
据悉，该推力器在设计中采用了空心阴极中置、磁屏蔽长寿命等新技术。研制中先后攻克大电流空心阴极、轻质小型化加速器、高效热管理、高压大功率稳定放电等关键技术，具有推力大、比冲高、工作寿命长、可靠性高等特点，可为大型GEO（地球静止轨道）卫星、中型/重型全电推平台、深空探测器、地球轨道空间运输平台、太空摆渡车等航天器的轨道机动转移，在轨位保和姿态控制等任务提供高效动力支撑。
The Sixth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Today
Recently, China's first 20 kW high-power Hall-effect thruster(HET) developed by 801 Institute of the Sixth Academy of CASC successfully completed ignition test, ignition time totaled 8 hours, ignition times exceeded 30 times. The successful development of this thruster, realized the leap of China's HET from millinewton to newton class.
During the test, the thruster has exhibit reliable ignition and stable operation parameters. The measured thrust is 1 N, the specific impulse is 3068 seconds, efficiency is greater than 70%, and the performance index reaches the international advanced level.
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Long March 5 Y-4 coming soon: Rocket's 'hearts' complete final test
2020-01-19 17:01:49 CGTN Editor : Li Yan
(CGTN Infographic)
The engines for China's largest carrier rocket Long March 5 Y-4 completed its final test on Sunday, about three weeks after its predecessor Y-3 launched from Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province, suggesting another booster is one step closer to joining China's largest carrier rocket family.
The super-cold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants, also known as the rocket's "hearts," are now ready to enter the final assembly stage of the rocket, CCTV reported.
The Y-4 carrier rocket will be responsible for China's first independent interplanetary mission in 2020, sending an orbiter and rover to Mars.
2020-01-19 17:01:49 CGTN Editor : Li Yan
The engines for China's largest carrier rocket Long March 5 Y-4 completed its final test on Sunday, about three weeks after its predecessor Y-3 launched from Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province, suggesting another booster is one step closer to joining China's largest carrier rocket family.
The super-cold liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellants, also known as the rocket's "hearts," are now ready to enter the final assembly stage of the rocket, CCTV reported.
The Y-4 carrier rocket will be responsible for China's first independent interplanetary mission in 2020, sending an orbiter and rover to Mars.
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Lunar probe to visit unexplored region
By ZHAO LEI | China Daily Global | Updated: 2020-01-20 00:00
Re-entry module expected to return to Earth with at least 1 kg of samples
The next mission in China's lunar exploration program－Chang'e 5－will land a probe on an area never reached by astronauts or spacecraft and is expected to bring back at least 1 kilogram of samples, a project insider said.
Peng Jing, deputy chief designer of the Chang'e 5 probe at the China Academy of Space Technology, said it is scheduled to be launched atop a Long March 5 carrier rocket, the biggest and strongest in the nation's rocket fleet, at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province during the fourth quarter of this year.
It will land on the northwestern part of the Oceanus Procellarum, a vast lunar mare on the western edge of the moon's near side, after flying for dozens of days.
"This particular landing site was selected because it has never been reached by man or rover and also because scientists are interested in the geological history of that place," Peng explained.
Compared with previous Chinese lunar missions, Chang'e 5 will be more sophisticated and challenging as it will be the first tasked with collecting samples and bringing them back to Earth, he said.
The 8.2-metric-ton probe has four components－orbiter, lander, ascender and re-entry module. After the probe reaches lunar orbit, the components will separate into two parts, with the orbiter and re-entry module remaining in orbit while the lander and ascender head toward the moon's surface.
The lander and ascender will make a soft landing and then get to work on tasks such as using a drill to collect underground rocks and a mechanical arm to gather lunar soil.
After the surface operations are done, the ascender's rocket will lift it into lunar orbit to dock with the re-entry module. It will transfer lunar samples to the module, which will carry them back to Earth.
If the mission is successful, it will make China the third nation to bring lunar samples back to Earth, after the United States and Russia, and also make Chang'e 5 the world's first lunar sample-return mission in more than four decades.
"The quantity of samples it will bring back depends on many factors, such as the landing site's geology. We hope that it can collect at least 1 kg, and if everything goes well, it may bring 2 kg or even more," Peng said. "The samples will be distributed to scientists for research on topics including the moon's physical composition, geological traits and shallow structures, which will consequently help with the understanding of the moon's evolution."
Speaking of future plans in the country's lunar exploration program, Peng said scientists and engineers have proposed that two or three missions could be made to set up a simple scientific outpost on the moon, which would be able to accommodate astronauts for short-term stays, to carry out experiments and explore the feasibility of long-term visits.
In another development, Ma Xiaobing, deputy chief designer of China's new-generation manned spacecraft, which has yet to be named, said that the new spaceship's prototype will make its debut flight during the first mission of the Long March 5B rocket this year at the Wenchang center.
The three-day flight will test and verify several key pieces of equipment on the new spacecraft, which will be bigger than the previous Shenzhou-series manned spaceships, he said, noting the new model will be reusable.
zhaolei@chinadaily.com.cn
By ZHAO LEI | China Daily Global | Updated: 2020-01-20 00:00
Re-entry module expected to return to Earth with at least 1 kg of samples
The next mission in China's lunar exploration program－Chang'e 5－will land a probe on an area never reached by astronauts or spacecraft and is expected to bring back at least 1 kilogram of samples, a project insider said.
Peng Jing, deputy chief designer of the Chang'e 5 probe at the China Academy of Space Technology, said it is scheduled to be launched atop a Long March 5 carrier rocket, the biggest and strongest in the nation's rocket fleet, at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province during the fourth quarter of this year.
It will land on the northwestern part of the Oceanus Procellarum, a vast lunar mare on the western edge of the moon's near side, after flying for dozens of days.
"This particular landing site was selected because it has never been reached by man or rover and also because scientists are interested in the geological history of that place," Peng explained.
Compared with previous Chinese lunar missions, Chang'e 5 will be more sophisticated and challenging as it will be the first tasked with collecting samples and bringing them back to Earth, he said.
The 8.2-metric-ton probe has four components－orbiter, lander, ascender and re-entry module. After the probe reaches lunar orbit, the components will separate into two parts, with the orbiter and re-entry module remaining in orbit while the lander and ascender head toward the moon's surface.
The lander and ascender will make a soft landing and then get to work on tasks such as using a drill to collect underground rocks and a mechanical arm to gather lunar soil.
After the surface operations are done, the ascender's rocket will lift it into lunar orbit to dock with the re-entry module. It will transfer lunar samples to the module, which will carry them back to Earth.
If the mission is successful, it will make China the third nation to bring lunar samples back to Earth, after the United States and Russia, and also make Chang'e 5 the world's first lunar sample-return mission in more than four decades.
"The quantity of samples it will bring back depends on many factors, such as the landing site's geology. We hope that it can collect at least 1 kg, and if everything goes well, it may bring 2 kg or even more," Peng said. "The samples will be distributed to scientists for research on topics including the moon's physical composition, geological traits and shallow structures, which will consequently help with the understanding of the moon's evolution."
Speaking of future plans in the country's lunar exploration program, Peng said scientists and engineers have proposed that two or three missions could be made to set up a simple scientific outpost on the moon, which would be able to accommodate astronauts for short-term stays, to carry out experiments and explore the feasibility of long-term visits.
In another development, Ma Xiaobing, deputy chief designer of China's new-generation manned spacecraft, which has yet to be named, said that the new spaceship's prototype will make its debut flight during the first mission of the Long March 5B rocket this year at the Wenchang center.
The three-day flight will test and verify several key pieces of equipment on the new spacecraft, which will be bigger than the previous Shenzhou-series manned spaceships, he said, noting the new model will be reusable.
zhaolei@chinadaily.com.cn
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China successfully verifies drag-free satellite control technology
Source:Globaltimes.cn Published: 2020/1/20 3:57:37
Photo: Chinanews.com
China recently completed an in-flight verification for satellite drag-free control technology, marking a step forward in the country's space-based gravitational wave detection program.
State-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) confirmed the successful verification with the Tianqin-1, the country's first satellite for space-based gravitational wave detection, on Saturday, Beijing-based newspaper Science and Technology Daily reported on Sunday.
Drag-free control technology blocks external forces that affect a satellite, excluding gravity, so it can remain static and stable, the report said, noting that forces need to be canceled including sunlight pressure and atmospheric drag.
Based on flight data, the new technology reduced external force on Tianqin-1's acceleration by less than 1-400 millionth of the gravitational acceleration, marking a better result than the European Space Agency's GOCE satellite's 1-300 millionth.
The results indicate that external forces have an acceleration effect of less than a human yawn, the report said.
The Chinese technology was successful in reducing displacement from external forces to 30 nanometers, or 1-4,000th of the diameter of an adult human hair strand. It is also better than the internationally well-known LISA satellite's 40 nanometers, according to Science and Technology Daily.
The two results have significant theoretical and practical value in detecting Earth's gravitational field, extraterrestrial objects, and gravitational waves, according to the report.
With this latest achievement, the Tianqin-1 has proven the level of its advanced technology.
The research institute under CASC started conducting related research in 2010, according to Science and Technology Daily, which also noted that China still need time to practically apply the technology in gravitational wave detection.
Launched on December 20, 2019, the Tianqin-1 is China's first technology demonstration satellite in the Tianqin gravitational wave detection program.
Initiated by Sun Yat-sen University in South China's Guangdong Province in 2015, the program will eventually consist of three satellites that will form an equilateral triangle around Earth, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
Source:Globaltimes.cn Published: 2020/1/20 3:57:37
China recently completed an in-flight verification for satellite drag-free control technology, marking a step forward in the country's space-based gravitational wave detection program.
State-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) confirmed the successful verification with the Tianqin-1, the country's first satellite for space-based gravitational wave detection, on Saturday, Beijing-based newspaper Science and Technology Daily reported on Sunday.
Drag-free control technology blocks external forces that affect a satellite, excluding gravity, so it can remain static and stable, the report said, noting that forces need to be canceled including sunlight pressure and atmospheric drag.
Based on flight data, the new technology reduced external force on Tianqin-1's acceleration by less than 1-400 millionth of the gravitational acceleration, marking a better result than the European Space Agency's GOCE satellite's 1-300 millionth.
The results indicate that external forces have an acceleration effect of less than a human yawn, the report said.
The Chinese technology was successful in reducing displacement from external forces to 30 nanometers, or 1-4,000th of the diameter of an adult human hair strand. It is also better than the internationally well-known LISA satellite's 40 nanometers, according to Science and Technology Daily.
The two results have significant theoretical and practical value in detecting Earth's gravitational field, extraterrestrial objects, and gravitational waves, according to the report.
With this latest achievement, the Tianqin-1 has proven the level of its advanced technology.
The research institute under CASC started conducting related research in 2010, according to Science and Technology Daily, which also noted that China still need time to practically apply the technology in gravitational wave detection.
Launched on December 20, 2019, the Tianqin-1 is China's first technology demonstration satellite in the Tianqin gravitational wave detection program.
Initiated by Sun Yat-sen University in South China's Guangdong Province in 2015, the program will eventually consist of three satellites that will form an equilateral triangle around Earth, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
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Three seaborne launches planned for Long March 11 rocket this year
By ZHAO LEI | China Daily Global | Updated: 2020-01-20 09:22
The Long March 11 carrier rocket blasts off from a mobile launch platform in the Yellow Sea off the eastern province of Shandong on June 5, 2019. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn]
China plans to conduct three seaborne launches using its Long March 11 solid-propellant carrier rocket this year, Jin Xin, the rocket's deputy project manager, said on Friday.
He told a news conference at China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp in Beijing that the launches will take place in the East China Sea from self-propelled platforms.
"We intend to use these missions to further improve our seaborne launch technologies and procedures," he said. "Compared with the first seaborne flight, the coming missions will feature better ships and streamlined tracking and support systems."
China carried out its first seaborne space launch in the Yellow Sea in June, marking the world's first seaborne launch in the past five years. In that mission, a Long March 11 rocket blasted off from a modified submersible craft, which had no propulsion system, off Shandong province and placed seven satellites into orbits nearly 600 kilometers above the Earth.
In addition to the three sea-based tasks, Long March 11 will also undertake two land-based launch missions this year, Jin said.
In another development, Shang Zhi, head of space programs at China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, the country's main space contractor, told the news conference that China's biggest and most powerful carrier rocket－Long March 5－is set to undertake three launch missions this year.
He said they will lift the prototype of China's new-generation manned spacecraft, the country's first Mars probe, and its fifth lunar probe－Chang'e 5.
The third mission of Long March 5, the tallest, strongest and most technologically sophisticated member of China's rocket family, was successfully launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province in late December, more than 900 days after the rocket's failed second flight.
In last month's mission, the 57-meter rocket placed the Shijian-20 experimental communication satellite, the largest and heaviest satellite China has ever made, into a geosynchronous orbit.
With more than 750 metric tons of propellants, each Long March 5 has a liftoff weight of 869 tons and a payload capacity about 2.5 times bigger than any other Chinese rocket. It ranks third among the world's most powerful operational rockets, following the United States' Falcon Heavy and Delta IV Heavy.
By ZHAO LEI | China Daily Global | Updated: 2020-01-20 09:22
China plans to conduct three seaborne launches using its Long March 11 solid-propellant carrier rocket this year, Jin Xin, the rocket's deputy project manager, said on Friday.
He told a news conference at China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp in Beijing that the launches will take place in the East China Sea from self-propelled platforms.
"We intend to use these missions to further improve our seaborne launch technologies and procedures," he said. "Compared with the first seaborne flight, the coming missions will feature better ships and streamlined tracking and support systems."
China carried out its first seaborne space launch in the Yellow Sea in June, marking the world's first seaborne launch in the past five years. In that mission, a Long March 11 rocket blasted off from a modified submersible craft, which had no propulsion system, off Shandong province and placed seven satellites into orbits nearly 600 kilometers above the Earth.
In addition to the three sea-based tasks, Long March 11 will also undertake two land-based launch missions this year, Jin said.
In another development, Shang Zhi, head of space programs at China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, the country's main space contractor, told the news conference that China's biggest and most powerful carrier rocket－Long March 5－is set to undertake three launch missions this year.
He said they will lift the prototype of China's new-generation manned spacecraft, the country's first Mars probe, and its fifth lunar probe－Chang'e 5.
The third mission of Long March 5, the tallest, strongest and most technologically sophisticated member of China's rocket family, was successfully launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province in late December, more than 900 days after the rocket's failed second flight.
In last month's mission, the 57-meter rocket placed the Shijian-20 experimental communication satellite, the largest and heaviest satellite China has ever made, into a geosynchronous orbit.
With more than 750 metric tons of propellants, each Long March 5 has a liftoff weight of 869 tons and a payload capacity about 2.5 times bigger than any other Chinese rocket. It ranks third among the world's most powerful operational rockets, following the United States' Falcon Heavy and Delta IV Heavy.
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China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
18 minutes ago from 360 Safe Browser
[Prototype of the core module of the space station and the new-generation manned spacecraft test vessel arrived in Wenchang! China Space Station's orbital construction mission is about to begin]
According to the China Manned Space Engineering Office, as of January 20, prototype of the space station's core module and a new generation manned spacecraft test vessels have arrived safely at Wenchang Space Launch Site. They will participate in the Long March 5B launch dress rehearsal and later maiden flight missions. At present, the launch site facilities and equipment are in good condition, and all preparations for the rehearsal are carried out in an orderly manner. According to plan, the Long March 5B carrier rocket will arrive at the Wenchang space launch site in early February.
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Space-based Active Earth Mapping Technology Enters 1:10,000 Era
2020-01-16
China achieved an important breakthrough in space-based active earth mapping technology when it released data acquired by the the laser altimeter onboard the Gaofen-7 satellite on Dec. 10, 2019. The data launched a new era by achieving global stereo mapping on a scale of 1:10,000.
The laser altimeter is China’s first full-waveform laser surveying and mapping payload to be put into service. Its key technology breakthroughs include laser positioning with arc-second precision, submetric absolute elevation acquisition, high optical beam quality and high-powered laser emissions. All core components of the laser altimeter are autonomous and controllable. At the same time, the laser altimeter creatively adopted composite measurement technology using active and passive optics and, for the first time in the world, simultaneously obtained high-precision elevation data and high-quality images of ground objects. Its digital waveform resolution was 7.5cm – showing better performance than similar instruments in other countries.
This technology will play a key role in obtaining high-precision three-dimensional topographic data from un-mapped areas in China. It also has great prospects in important areas such as territorial mapping, residential construction planning and national resource statistics, among others.
Space-based Active Earth Mapping Technology Enters 1:10,000 Era ---- Chinese Academy of Sciences
2020-01-16
China achieved an important breakthrough in space-based active earth mapping technology when it released data acquired by the the laser altimeter onboard the Gaofen-7 satellite on Dec. 10, 2019. The data launched a new era by achieving global stereo mapping on a scale of 1:10,000.
The laser altimeter is China’s first full-waveform laser surveying and mapping payload to be put into service. Its key technology breakthroughs include laser positioning with arc-second precision, submetric absolute elevation acquisition, high optical beam quality and high-powered laser emissions. All core components of the laser altimeter are autonomous and controllable. At the same time, the laser altimeter creatively adopted composite measurement technology using active and passive optics and, for the first time in the world, simultaneously obtained high-precision elevation data and high-quality images of ground objects. Its digital waveform resolution was 7.5cm – showing better performance than similar instruments in other countries.
This technology will play a key role in obtaining high-precision three-dimensional topographic data from un-mapped areas in China. It also has great prospects in important areas such as territorial mapping, residential construction planning and national resource statistics, among others.
Space-based Active Earth Mapping Technology Enters 1:10,000 Era ---- Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Space station core module, manned spacecraft arrive at launch site
Xinhua, January 21, 2020
A core module prototype of China's space station and a prototype of China's new-generation manned spacecraft arrived at the launch site in south China's Hainan Province after a week of ocean and rail transport, the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) announced Monday.
The core module will take part in joint rehearsals with the Long March-5B carrier rocket at the Wenchang Space Launch Center while the new manned spacecraft will be launched by the rocket's maiden flight in the first half of this year.
This means the building of China's space station in space will begin soon, the CMSEO said.
The core module, named Tianhe (harmony of the heavens), will function as the command and control center of the space station. It is 16.6 meters long with a diameter of 4.2 meters and a takeoff weight of 22.5 tonnes.
As the largest spacecraft ever developed by China, Tianhe will accommodate three astronauts and serve as a space laboratory to carry out scientific research and technological verifications, the CMSEO said.
The new-generation manned spacecraft is 8.8 meters long and has a takeoff weight of 21.6 tonnes. It will be used for transporting crew to the space station and to conduct China's future manned lunar missions.
China is scheduled to complete the construction of the space station around 2022.
The Long March-5B rocket is scheduled to arrive at the launch site in early February, the CMSEO said.
Xinhua, January 21, 2020
A core module prototype of China's space station and a prototype of China's new-generation manned spacecraft arrived at the launch site in south China's Hainan Province after a week of ocean and rail transport, the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) announced Monday.
The core module will take part in joint rehearsals with the Long March-5B carrier rocket at the Wenchang Space Launch Center while the new manned spacecraft will be launched by the rocket's maiden flight in the first half of this year.
This means the building of China's space station in space will begin soon, the CMSEO said.
The core module, named Tianhe (harmony of the heavens), will function as the command and control center of the space station. It is 16.6 meters long with a diameter of 4.2 meters and a takeoff weight of 22.5 tonnes.
As the largest spacecraft ever developed by China, Tianhe will accommodate three astronauts and serve as a space laboratory to carry out scientific research and technological verifications, the CMSEO said.
The new-generation manned spacecraft is 8.8 meters long and has a takeoff weight of 21.6 tonnes. It will be used for transporting crew to the space station and to conduct China's future manned lunar missions.
China is scheduled to complete the construction of the space station around 2022.
The Long March-5B rocket is scheduled to arrive at the launch site in early February, the CMSEO said.
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China to launch Mars probe in July
2020-01-23 16:20:51 Xinhua
China announced that it will launch its first Mars mission probe in July this year, China Youth Daily reported Thursday, adding that this is the first time the country disclosed the launch month of its Mars exploration program.
The Mars probe will be sent by the Long March-5 Y4 carrier rocket, said the newspaper, citing sources from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
The Long March-5 Y4 rocket has recently completed a 100-second test for its high thrust hydrogen-oxygen engine, which is the last engine examination before the final assembly.
According to the CASC, China will send a probe to orbit and land and deploy a rover on Mars.
In 2020, the Long March-5 rocket will carry out several missions, including the Mars probe launch and the lunar sample return.
A total of 24 high thrust hydrogen-oxygen rocket engine tests will be conducted this year for these missions.
2020-01-23 16:20:51 Xinhua
China announced that it will launch its first Mars mission probe in July this year, China Youth Daily reported Thursday, adding that this is the first time the country disclosed the launch month of its Mars exploration program.
The Mars probe will be sent by the Long March-5 Y4 carrier rocket, said the newspaper, citing sources from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
The Long March-5 Y4 rocket has recently completed a 100-second test for its high thrust hydrogen-oxygen engine, which is the last engine examination before the final assembly.
According to the CASC, China will send a probe to orbit and land and deploy a rover on Mars.
In 2020, the Long March-5 rocket will carry out several missions, including the Mars probe launch and the lunar sample return.
A total of 24 high thrust hydrogen-oxygen rocket engine tests will be conducted this year for these missions.
When will the probe and rover reach Mars if launch in July 2020?
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The probe would take 7 months to reach Mars, so sometimes around Feb, 2021, and would land on Mars before July, 2021.Lunar, Mars exploration missions set for next year
By ZHAO LEI | China Daily | Updated: 2019-10-24 03:33
Photo taken by the rover Yutu 2 (Jade Rabbit-2) on Jan 11, 2019 shows the lander of the Chang'e 4 probe. [Photo/Xinhua/China National Space Administration]
Chinese scientists are determined to carry out two of the nation's most challenging space endeavors next year: its Chang'e 5 lunar mission and first Mars exploration.
Ye Peijian, a leading space exploration researcher at the China Academy of Space Technology, said in Beijing recently that he and his colleagues are confident they will honor their commitment to the Chinese people, that of commencing with the Chang'e 5 and Mars missions in 2020.
"We have been improving the overall reliability of the Chang'e 5 mission since it was postponed, and we continue to make plans for all possible contingencies to make sure the program will succeed," he said.
Ye, 74, is one of the most accomplished space researchers in China and was recently awarded the honorary national title of People's Scientist. He has played major roles in a number of significant space projects, including the Chang'e lunar exploration program.
The original plan for the Chang'e 5 mission was to launch it at the end of 2017. However, the failure of the second launch of the Long March 5 carrier rocket, the country's largest and mightiest rocket and the one tasked with ferrying the Chang'e 5 probe, led to the lunar mission's delay.
If the Chang'e 5 program succeeds, it will make China the third nation to bring lunar samples back to Earth, after the United States and Russia.
China has launched four lunar probes since 2007.
In December 2013, the third probe became the first Chinese spacecraft to land on the lunar surface and released the first Chinese lunar rover.
The ongoing Chang'e 4 mission, launched in December, has been giving mankind its first close-up look at the moon's far side — a region that never faces Earth — accomplishing a goal sought by scientists for decades.
"We are also doing research and making plans for the Chang'e 6 mission," Ye said. "If Chang'e 5 is successful, then we will send Chang'e 6 to the lunar south pole to collect samples and bring them back because it is scientifically important for scientists to survey and investigate the south pole."
He said the Mars exploration program is proceeding well. China's first planetary expedition, it is expected to land a probe on the Martian surface before July 2021.
"Though it has been preceded by other countries' Mars missions, ours will produce better performance in terms of technological level and engineering capability," Ye said. "We will use the probe to fulfill three scientific objectives — orbiting the red planet for comprehensive observation, landing on Martian soil and using a rover to explore the landing site. If we succeed, this will become the world's first Mars expedition accomplishing all three goals with one probe."
The China National Space Administration says the country's first Martian probe will conduct scientific investigations of Martian soil, the planet's geological structure as well as its environment and also search for the possible existence of water.
The probe will take about seven months to reach the red planet.
so no direct insertion into the mars orbit?
how many rounds the probe gonna do around the earth before transfer to the mars' orbit?
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