China Readies Moon Mission for Launch Next Week

[Saifullah Sani]

New lunar mission to test Chang'e-5 technology

China will launch a new lunar mission this week to test technology likely to be used in Chang'e-5, a future lunar probe with the ability to return to Earth.

The spacecraft launched this week is expected to reach a location near the moon andreturn to earth, according to a source with the State Administration of Science, Technologyand Industry for National Defense on Wednesday.

It is scheduled to launch between Friday and Sunday.


New lunar mission to test Chang'e-5 technology - People's Daily Online

 

[yusheng]

launched atop an advanced Long March-3C rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 24, 2014. China launched the lunar orbiter early Friday to test technologies to be used in the Chang'e-5, a future probe that will conduct the country's first moon mission with a return to Earth. (Xinhua/Jiang Hongjing)

XICHANG, Sichuan, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- China launched an unmanned spacecraft early Friday to test technologies to be used in the Chang'e-5, a future probe that will conduct the country's first moon mission with a return to Earth.

The lunar orbiter was launched atop an advanced Long March-3C rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The test spacecraft separated from its carrier rocket and entered the expected the orbit shortly after the liftoff, according to the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.

The whole mission will take about eight days. Developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the spacecraft will fly around the moon for half a circle and return to Earth.

On its return, the test spacecraft will approach the terrestrial atmosphere at a velocity of nearly 11.2 kilometers per second and rebound to slow down before re-entering the atmosphere. It will land in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

The mission is to obtain experimental data and validate re-entry technologies such as guidance, navigation and control, heat shield and trajectory design for a future touch-down on the moon by Chang'e-5, which is expected to be sent to the moon, collect samples and return to Earth in 2017.

It is the first time China has conducted a test involving a half-orbiter around the moon at a height of 380,000 kilometers before having the spacecraft return to Earth.

The test orbiter is a precursor to the last phase of a three-step moon probe project, a lunar sample return mission.

China carried out Chang'e-1 and Chang'e-2 missions in 2007 and 2010, respectively, capping the orbital phase.

The ongoing second phase saw Chang'e-3 with the country's first moon rover Yutu onboard succeed in soft landing on the moon in December 2013. Chang'e-4 is the backup probe of Chang'e-3 and will help pave the way for future probes.

 

[Rafi]

All the best to our Chinese brothers and sisters, Godspeed.

 

[Kyle Sun]

Return date ?

 

[cirr]

All the best to our Chinese brothers and sisters, Godspeed.

Return date ?

In about 8 days。

 

[AMDR]

Good luck!

 

[dlclong]

Thanks for everyone's blessing!

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

 

[Keel]

So it appears we dont have the soft landing on the moon this time?

 

[GeHAC]

So it appears we dont have the soft landing on the moon this time?

yes,but this test of Tsien Hsueshen trajectory would be more complex

 

[Keel]

yes,but this test of Tsien Hsueshen trajectory would be more complex

I think you are referring to the "skip- bounce" on the orbit into the earth bound trajectory
Yes it is complex and asking for immense precision and also testing of the "heat-shield"

BUT I was hoping for more like a soft landing- lifting-off from the Moon and an orbital rendezvou before a home return I guess to accomplish all those we need a more powerful rocket like the CZ-5 which will be deployed in the next mission



Anyway, all the best and see you 7.5 days later!

 

[scorpionx]

All the best, guys. We all wish this venture succeeds with flying colors. Good luck.

 

[cirr]

Free-return it is。

 

[TaiShang]

Test orbiter makes 1st adjustment


Technicians make the first adjustment to the test orbiter for lunar mission at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center, in Beijing, China, Oct. 24, 2014. The test orbiter made its first adjustment successfully at 4: 29 p.m. on Friday under technicians' accurate control. (Xinhua/Tian Zhaoyun)


The screen shows the process of the first adjustment of the test orbiter for lunar mission at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center, in Beijing, China, Oct. 24, 2014. The test orbiter made its first adjustment successfully at 4: 29 p.m. on Friday under technicians' accurate control. (Xinhua/Tian Zhaoyun)



Technicians wait for the first adjustment of the test orbiter for lunar mission at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center, in Beijing, China, Oct. 24, 2014. The test orbiter made its first adjustment successfully at 4: 29 p.m. on Friday under technicians' accurate control. (Xinhua/Tian Zhaoyun)



The screen shows the process of the first adjustment of the test orbiter for lunar mission at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center, in Beijing, China, Oct. 24, 2014. The test orbiter made its first adjustment successfully at 4: 29 p.m. on Friday under technicians' accurate control. (Xinhua/Tian Zhaoyun)



Technicians monitor the test orbiter for lunar mission at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center, in Beijing, China, Oct. 24, 2014. The test orbiter made its first adjustment successfully at 4: 29 p.m. on Friday under technicians' accurate control. (Xinhua/Tian Zhaoyun)

 

[Parul]

Best of Luck.