Highlight of today: the world's first attempt at an automated rendezvous and docking around an extraterrestrial body!
• 1st Ascender remote guidance: 3th December 22:05 UTC (4th December 06:05 BJT) ✔
• 2nd Ascender remote guidance: 4th December 08:04 UTC (4th December 16:04 BJT) ✔
• 3rd Ascender remote guidance: 4th December 19:46 UTC (5th December 03:46 BJT) ✔
• 4th Ascender remote guidance: 5th December 11:54 UTC (5th December 19:54 BJT) ✔
• Start of final approach rendezvous and docking: 5th December 18:14 UTC (02:14 Beijing Time) ✔
• Docking completed: 5th December 21:40 UTC (6th December 05:40 Beijing Time) ✔
• Transfert of soil sample container from Ascender to Return Capsule completed: 5th December 22:01 UTC (06:01 6th December Beijing Time) ✔
• Ascender and docking module jettisoned from orbiter: 6th December 04:35 UTC (12:35 Beijing Time) ✔
• Orbiter orbit phasing burn: 6th-12th December Beijing Time
• 1st Trans-Earth Injection (TEI) burn: 12th December 9:30 UTC (12th December 17:30 Beijing Time)
• 2nd TEI burn:
• Trajectory Correction Maneuver 4 (TCM-4) :
• TCM-5 :
• TCM-6 :
Start of final approach rendezvous and docking: T-30 min!
The Chang'e-5 orbiter and ascender are expected to reach the limit of long-range to short-range guidance.
With microwave radar's guidance the two spacecrafts gradually reduce the separating distance, preparing for the first automatic rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit.
CGI images of the mechanical docking system: 3 claws of the orbiter grabbing 3 horizontal handles of the ascender, ensuring perfect automatic axial alignment.
https://archive.is/NxJyO/621d82c48ad50f4d00117d3c23d5dc4cded2979e.jpg ; https://archive.is/NxJyO/2b83b969f25102077710e6dae57460100d8e6a77/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20201205165853/https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eody_L5XYAEpyv6?format=jpg&name=medium
▲ 1. Closeup at the mechanical docking system, 3 claws of the orbiter grabbing 3 horizontal handles of the ascender.
https://archive.vn/qJE7b/6e2f88d27ebf35d1dc571bb2156383931784447f.jpg ; https://archive.vn/qJE7b/990ead6428838dcb0ceb71e3fb7b30c9e48250be/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20201205170108/https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EntGVawXUAAfBSi?format=jpg&name=4096x4096
▲ 2. Closeup at the mechanical docking system, 3 claws of the orbiter grabbing 3 horizontal handles of the ascender.
https://archive.vn/8oXMG/7f838cb5f66daeeecfc50768ebf04cbbc8f7ef0e.jpg ; https://archive.vn/8oXMG/2d4da50d93a1404aeef4ff14e89a7a28eaf93cb4/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20201205170152/https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EntGYE_XcAIir1v?format=jpg&name=4096x4096
▲ 3. Closeup at the mechanical docking system, 3 claws of the orbiter grabbing 3 horizontal handles of the ascender.
https://archive.vn/H8pLw/80b9d4395b9be7ff70c060270c4a7ddacdd7205d.jpg ; https://archive.vn/H8pLw/10cc3c0b70aeb3e89b235c6b2369999e94f89252/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20201205170229/https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EntGYFCXUAc312s?format=jpg&name=4096x4096
▲ 4. Closeup at the mechanical docking system, 3 claws of the orbiter grabbing 3 horizontal handles of the ascender.
https://archive.vn/CqmTS/5550d7fe34adbe4e484bd53fa057187de1569b63.jpg ; https://archive.vn/CqmTS/e9c13a94adbf3cb560006c797c1435423fdb035d/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20201205173858/https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EnwMphnW8AAxU5P?format=jpg&name=4096x4096
▲ 5. CGI of docking between Orbiter and Ascender completed.
Animated Video, starting at T=2m30s:
haokan.baidu.com
嫦娥五号探月之旅视觉大片上线,每一帧都很震撼!
发布时间:2020年11月25日
https://haokan.baidu.com/v?vid=8745319011237522539
The ascender during vacuum chamber ground testing.
Typical 4 propellant tanks design found in most Chinese spacecrafts, 2 for the oxidizer and 2 for the fuel, that allows an easy balance of the spacecraft center of mass.
Also used for Chang'e 5 Orbiter, Lander, Tianwen-1 Mars Orbiter.
https://archive.vn/l2vM8/a80da7a506699ad10f5e50f811041e82fbd083f4.jpg ; https://archive.vn/l2vM8/99f1853e3d1dc85b500e37acfe92736061464255/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20201205173505/https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EnxB3KMXEAE-ooo?format=jpg&name=medium
▲ 6. The ascender during ground testing.
嫦娥五号上升器成功与轨返组合体完成月球轨道交会对接
12-06 05:43 阅读 4486
Success. The Chang'e-5 ascent vehicle and orbiter have completed rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit.
At 5:42 on December 6, the Chang'e-5 ascender successfully rendezvous and docked with the orbiter and returner assembly, and the sample container was safely transferred to the returner at 6:12. This is the first time that our nation has realized lunar orbital rendezvous and docking.
From the beginning of the ascender entering the orbit around the moon, through long-range guidance and short-range autonomous control, the orbiter and returner assembly gradually approached the ascender, capturing the ascender with its claws, and completing the rendezvous and docking.
In the future, the Chang'e-5 orbiter and returner combination will be separated from the ascender and return to Earth at the right time.
https://card.weibo.com/article/m/show/id/2309404579010377023518
In a world's first, completed in 3 hours and a half: the automated rendezvous and docking in an extraterrestrial body's orbit.
https://archive.vn/P2wIU/8949d35371ea8373c0850f4135db95fac8190f4f.jpg ; https://archive.vn/P2wIU/1e783c0a358bad57cf23e93bc98f2eee8ee711b3/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20201205222050/https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EogapiwXcAQuOBD?format=jpg&name=large
▲ 6. In a China's first, in a world's first!
https://archive.vn/rtCNl/d00b967dd0f20ce36e991aeefb294283eff149d8.jpg ; https://archive.vn/rtCNl/0dde11f90a64020938df0f2baf727e22965cde66/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20201205221044/https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EogZmQ7XEAAN6a3?format=jpg&name=4096x4096
▲ 7. Chang'e-5 ascent vehicle and orbiter have completed rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit in 3 hours and a half.
Transfert of rock sample to the return capsule completed:
https://archive.vn/2pY3B/bec49f7bc8ce37bfdb6cb9947ec97c047bc63e8c.jpg ; https://archive.vn/2pY3B/b19fd1870d8b8cb07f9f99d2bc1dd68314e5bcd4/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20201205221707/https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EogZqCmXIAARzou?format=jpg&name=large
▲ 8. Transfert of rock sample to the return capsule completed.
Picture taken from Chang'e-5 orbiter's camera , showing the approaching ascent vehicle and a crescent Earth:
https://archive.vn/Nbvh5/7c4fbc94044f3837dcc6c0a1ba52414bc872e7d6.jpg ; https://archive.vn/Nbvh5/c7f2a8aefd381615c052333f140f9820ff6a20ea/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20201205223205/https://9ifly.spacety.com/data/attachment/image/000/17/87/58_640_480.jpg
▲ 9. Picture taken from Chang'e-5 orbiter's camera , showing the approaching ascent vehicle and a crescent Earth.
Picture from the orbiter's onboard camera monitoring the docking:
https://archive.vn/PShsb/f5a1db54e579f6ef98f91386d13550b0090fa3ae.jpg ; https://archive.vn/PShsb/1db8de00250864641f9fe58e54ae286b74a2e641/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20201205222852/https://9ifly.spacety.com/data/attachment/image/000/17/87/57_640_480.jpg
▲ 10. Picture from the orbiter's onboard camera monitoring the docking.
Animation of the rendezvous, docking etc:
https://twitter.com/CarlZha/status/1335346676974776322
Bilibili Video of docking and transfert (2m06s)
【全网独家视频】嫦娥五号交会对接及样品转移:来自月球的“土特产”已准备派送!
2020-12-06 04:50:39
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1Ba4y1W7B3
Youtube Video of docking and transfert (4m37s)
中国首次实现月球轨道交会对接 嫦娥五号完成在轨样品转移
•Dec 5, 2020
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GaGfpS8AhU
12月6日12时35分,嫦娥五号轨返组合体与上升器成功分离,进入环月等待阶段,将择机返回地球。(CNSA/CLEP)
Ascender and docking module jettisoned from orbiter at 12:35 BJT, entering lunar parking orbit before the return trip
https://twitter.com/TheElegant055/status/1335452576280670209
________________________
As Chang'e 5 start the final approach rendezvous and docking procedure, Japan's Hayabusa-2 return capsule landed safely in Australia.
To be followed a few days later by Chang'e 5.
HAYABUSA2@JAXA
After ejecting the heat shield, the capsule was due to deploy a parachute and begin emitting a beacon that could be detected from 5 stations assembled in Woomera. The location of the capsule is then identified by triangulating the directions each station “sees” the beacon.
Today (12/6) at 03:07 JST, as a result of the beacon direction search, the capsule landing point has been estimated. Now, we will search by helicopter.
Today (12/6) at 04:47 JST, as a result of the helicopter search, we found a capsule in the planned landing area!
https://twitter.com/haya2e_jaxa/status/1335287158211399680
6:34 PM · Dec 5, 2020·Twitter Web App
https://archive.vn/zL42p/7d1fe506a7da1b10730288e427040110663d0308.jpg ; https://archive.vn/zL42p/bc936e77c99b53fff097568be0ae6967275ac1c8/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20201205201756/https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eof9-lfVgAMZVtk?format=jpg&name=900x900
▲ 1. Photo of the Hayabusa-2 fireball from on-site.
https://archive.is/ajKs8/95e9a872692a5bbe746b1549ea7d9c0c1a4df2be.jpg ; https://archive.is/ajKs8/86a47c45f462eb57b8286968dc09c95af3f46440/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20201206042325/https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eohs-TlXYAQrurD?format=jpg&name=large
▲ 2. The Hayabusa-2 capsule with pieces of an asteroid.
https://archive.vn/QkVZe/3eaa6bb697f97f4574c7ec72c6929ad1d2030d52.png ; https://archive.vn/QkVZe/3402ff9f2ef0d4ab0ca7468b8a03a33947362847/scr.png ; http://web.archive.org/web/20201206042728/https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eog5DLgXcAAmUJ-?format=png&name=small
▲ 3. Returned samples from asteroid retrieved from Hayabusa-2
100% SUCCESS FOR EAST ASIA TODAY!