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Posted by: Phil Stooke Aug 11 2017, 05:46 AM

https://www.chinaspaceflight.com/satellite/Deepspace/CE-6/CE-6.html

CE-6 now being touted for 2020 and a south polar target. The rim of Shackleton crater is suggested, probably just for a mission simulation rather than serious site planning at this stage. I had been hearing about two polar landers in the 2023-2025 period (roughly) in addition to and following CE-6, which I had assumed was going to the same general region as CE-4. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

Posted by: A.Nemo Jun 4 2019, 02:46 AM

as a copy and backup of CE-5, CE-6 will be launched in 2024.
if CE-5 fails in 2019 or 2020, CE-6 will be launched within two years.

Posted by: bobik Nov 7 2019, 02:20 PM

The French https://els-tlse.sciencesconf.org/data/pages/ELS_2018_Abstract_Booklet_08052018.pdf#page=128 (Detection of Outgassing RadoN) experiment https://presse.cnes.fr/sites/default/files/drupal/201911/default/cp156-2019_-_chine.pdf for a flight to the Moon on Chang'e-6.

Posted by: Huguet Oct 26 2020, 04:59 PM

Since long time we have Chang'e 6, 7 and 8 with focus on solar south pole, now we get Nasa with the south pole water rich findings.

This will be interesting.

https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/cnsa_moon_future.html

https://www.space.com/water-on-moon-shadow-cold-traps-discovery

Posted by: Steve G Oct 26 2020, 09:33 PM

On the subject of the water on the moon announcement, here is a screenshot from the CBS website. Is this a picture of the moon or Mercury that they used?

Posted by: Phil Stooke Oct 26 2020, 10:45 PM

Moon - Rheita Valley is the linear feature. Mare Australe on the limb.

Phil

Posted by: Steve G Oct 27 2020, 02:48 AM

Awesome, thanks!

Posted by: Phil Stooke Mar 21 2021, 05:25 PM

Heard at LPSC: CE7 will fly before CE6. CE7 is an ambitious mission with lander, rover and a hopping component which can fly over a shaded area. CE6 is a second sample return mission.

Phil

Posted by: vjkane Mar 21 2021, 07:54 PM

QUOTE (Phil Stooke @ Mar 21 2021, 09:25 AM)

Posted by: Phil Stooke Mar 21 2021, 09:07 PM

It was reported verbally in the plenary session on March 17th:

The Scientific Achievements by Chang’E-4 and the New Lunar Samples Returned by Chang’E-5
Lin Y.

This statement was towards the end of the talk. I have to say the talk was not particularly useful if you have been following these missions, no CE5 results reported, just a summary of what to expect. Lin did say in response to a question that the CE5 results would be reported soon, probably waiting for a paper to be accepted.

Phil

Posted by: Phil Stooke Oct 3 2022, 07:42 AM

Here is an abstract about an instrument to be carried on CE6.

https://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC2022/EPSC2022-992.html

For me the most important thing is a statement about a landing site:

"Chang’E-6 is expected to launch in 2024 and will soft-land on the lunar far-side at approximately 41°S and 180°E."

That's the first specific statement I have seen. It may change but it's a start. Many other reports say it will go to the South Pole but in the press the pole is often confused with the 'South Pole-Aitken basin' so it's not always easy to know what is intended.

That location is not far from Chang'e 4, inside Leibnitz crater but on the ejecta of Finsen crater (which also provided most of what Yutu 2 has seen so far). Samples would include material from Finsen, Leibnitz and SPA.

Phil

Posted by: vjkane Oct 3 2022, 10:19 PM

QUOTE (Phil Stooke @ Oct 2 2022, 11:42 PM)

Posted by: Explorer1 Jan 19 2023, 01:25 AM

A nice article about the replacement for the current relay satellite, in preparation for Chang'E 6. Looks like a NRHOorbit instead of the Lagrange point this time.

https://spacenews.com/china-to-launch-relay-satellite-next-year-to-support-moon-landing-missions/

Not sure exactly how the 1st one will be disposed off though.

Posted by: Cosmic Penguin Apr 25 2023, 01:34 PM

https://twitter.com/CNSpaceflight/status/1650854804996882434 to S43º ±2º, W154º ±4º. Launch scheduled for May 2024 for a 53 days mission.

Posted by: bobik Jul 4 2023, 04:41 AM

The French https://ltu.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1716946/FULLTEXT01.pdf (Detection of Outgassing RadoN) instrument https://www.news.obs-mip.fr/dorn-lune-radon-mission-atmosphere/ to the Chinese Space Agency (CNSA) in July 2023.

Posted by: Phil Stooke Aug 1 2023, 07:16 AM

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-023-02038-1

Open access paper on the landing area. Note that it is not south polar, the thread title is incorrect.

Phil

Posted by: nprev Aug 2 2023, 06:35 PM

Agreed. Topic title changed.

Posted by: Phil Stooke Apr 12 2024, 06:28 AM

Chang'e 6 is preceded by its relay satellite Queqiao 2 and two little companions, Tiandu-1 and Tiandu-2. The large Queqiao 2 is in a frozen highly elliptical orbit which spends much of its time high over the southern farside, where it will be able to relay data from Chang'e 4 and 6 as well as the polar landers CE-7 and 8. Its companions are in different orbits and are designed to test technologies for future relay systems.

Tiandu-2 took a far infrared image of part of the Moon and a distant Earth:

Posted by: Thorsten Denk Apr 30 2024, 07:11 AM

Cháng'é-6 launch next "early Friday, May 3"?
https://spacenews.com/china-ready-to-launch-lunar-far-side-sample-return-mission/

Thorsten

Posted by: Hungry4info Apr 30 2024, 12:37 PM

The Planetary Society has a good article on the mission, including an interesting tidbit I wasn't aware of until now:https://www.planetary.org/articles/change-6-launch-what-to-expect

Posted by: Explorer1 May 3 2024, 01:00 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=396HCizmcbk

Posted by: Hungry4info May 3 2024, 06:37 PM

Chang'e 6 carries a rover! The rover has an infrared imaging spectrometer. https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/P7yuVn34KsJeEE3AAdxHUQ

https://twitter.com/CNSAWatcher/status/1786450700651626587

Posted by: Hungry4info May 4 2024, 12:28 AM

QUOTE (Hungry4info @ Apr 30 2024, 06:37 AM)

Posted by: kenny May 4 2024, 04:20 PM

Small rover strapped to the side of the lander.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=999232018203464&set=gm.2055419674840842&idorvanity=796630247386464

Posted by: kenny May 6 2024, 08:12 PM

Scott Tilley on Twitter/X is reporting continued tracking of Chang'e 6 on 4th day of its outward leg to the Moon.
Expecting arrival into lunar orbit around 03:00 UTC on May 8th.

Posted by: kenny May 7 2024, 08:34 PM

Mission timeline on Weibo:

Arrival at the moon on May 8,
Lander separates on June 1,
Samples collected on June 2,
Ascent to lunar orbit on June 4,
Docking with orbiter on June 6,
Return to Earth on June 25.

Thanks to CNSA Watcher on X/Twitter.
Source: https://m.weibo.cn/status/OdeLu1Mwe

Posted by: Hungry4info May 8 2024, 03:49 AM

Chang'e 6 has successfully entered lunar orbit.

https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5031700936265747#&video

Posted by: Hungry4info May 8 2024, 07:39 PM

Pakistan's ICUBE-Q has been deployed at the apogee of the initial high lunar orbit.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1186687-pakistans-first-lunar-mission-icube-qamar-deployed-in-orbit

Posted by: Hungry4info May 10 2024, 05:36 PM

Images have been received from ICUBE-Q.

Posted by: nogal May 26 2024, 10:48 PM

I hope this is the right thread...

The paper titled "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-023-02038-1" includes enough information and images to allow creating a KML file for Google Moon (in Google Earth).
Full credit to the authors is included in the KML file and is displayed by clicking the underlined "Chang'e 6 Landing Site" title. The included base image has better resolution than the underlying Google imagery. Unfortunately it proved impossible (to me) to perfectly match the image to the Google imagery. Nevertheless, I think it is worth it and hope it may be of some use, now that the landing is approaching.

Just as with the the Curiosity KML file, download the file below to your favorite place and double click it. This should invoke Google Earth, and a message prompting to allow to change to the Moon should appear. All comments are welcome, especially if you run into any problems!

 Chang__e_6_Landing_Site_2024MAY26.kmz ( 2.92MB ) : 45


Fernando

Posted by: Phil Stooke May 27 2024, 07:12 PM

https://x.com/SegerYu/status/1795057805495291916

Seger Yu tweets a landing position reported on CCTV news, 154.4° W, 42.1° S.


Phil

Posted by: nogal May 28 2024, 07:58 PM

My thanks to Phil for the information on the planned landing site.

I have added to the KML file a ground overlay for the location, using a crop of an LROC high resolution image (getting very close to the post max size).
Full credit included in the file. I encourage users to expand the file on the GE viewer panel and find all the features within it.

 Chang__e_6_Landing_Site_2024MAY28.kmz ( 2.92MB ) : 30


Fernando

Posted by: kenny May 29 2024, 07:01 PM

Andrew Jones reports that the landing is now set for approximately 8:00 p.m. Eastern Saturday, June 1 (00.00 UTC June 2), according to the European Space Agency (ESA), which is involved via a payload developed in Sweden. The mission is targeting a landing in the southern portion of Apollo crater within the vast South Pole-Aitken basin. The sun began to rise over the crater on May 28.

https://spacenews.com/change-6-set-for-weekend-landing-attempt-as-sun-rises-over-apollo-crater/

Posted by: Thorsten Denk Jun 1 2024, 10:43 PM

According to Seger Yu, the landing was successful!
https://x.com/SegerYu/status/1797034552730529929
Congratulations!
Thorsten

Posted by: Phil Stooke Jun 1 2024, 11:30 PM

OK, assuming this is correct, here is an updated Moon sites map.

Phil

Posted by: Hungry4info Jun 2 2024, 12:00 AM

Confirmation from CGTN.
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-06-02/China-s-Chang-e-6-probe-lands-on-far-side-of-moon-1u5XLCSm8nu/p.html

Livestream coming up in about two hours.
https://w.yangshipin.cn/video?type=2&vid=2023782403&pid=600178662

Posted by: Hungry4info Jun 2 2024, 12:34 AM

Statement from CNSA.
https://www.cnsa.gov.cn/n6758823/n6758844/n10518102/n10518147/c10541444/content.html

Posted by: Hungry4info Jun 2 2024, 01:05 AM

https://m.weibo.cn/status/Oh5xEjmcP
Chang'e 6 is preparing for lunar soil collection.

Posted by: Steve G Jun 2 2024, 01:22 AM

QUOTE (Phil Stooke @ Jun 1 2024, 04:30 PM)

OK, assuming this is correct, here is an updated Moon sites map.

Phil




LINK to full-size map:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/tebyydtb4cqyv1ubr6dxp/moon-site-map.png?rlkey=cqdpr8hf2ubsdobldlmeedu22&dl=0

Posted by: Hungry4info Jun 2 2024, 02:07 AM

Broadcast is on. You can also find it on the Weibo account 央视新闻 https://weibo.com/cctvxinwen?layerid=5040757216119241

Core drilling has begun.

Posted by: ollopa Jun 2 2024, 02:13 AM

QUOTE (Steve G @ Jun 2 2024, 01:22 AM)

Posted by: Phil Stooke Jun 2 2024, 02:19 AM

Your blue and yellow may be reversed.

Phil

Posted by: Explorer1 Jun 2 2024, 02:20 AM

One surface image being displayed now (looking straight down apparently).

Posted by: Hungry4info Jun 2 2024, 02:22 AM

Surface!

Posted by: Phil Stooke Jun 2 2024, 03:00 AM

The broadcast ended with a great landing video. Let's hope it is released soon. Fantastic job, everyone involved.

Phil

Posted by: ollopa Jun 2 2024, 03:02 AM

QUOTE (Phil Stooke @ Jun 2 2024, 02:19 AM)

Posted by: Cosmic Penguin Jun 2 2024, 03:09 AM

QUOTE (Phil Stooke @ Jun 2 2024, 11:00 AM)

Posted by: Phil Stooke Jun 2 2024, 03:49 AM

First impression, a bit north of the target.

Phil

Posted by: Hungry4info Jun 2 2024, 03:52 AM

Coordinates are approximately -41.63839 206.01455, or 153.98545 W, 41.63839 S.
Edit: SegerYu beat me to it. Similar result. https://x.com/SegerYu/status/1797110109493166299

Posted by: Hungry4info Jun 2 2024, 05:08 AM

I'm seeing reports on Weibo and from some Chinese spaceflight accounts on Twitter that the drilling has concluded successfully.
This would be in contrast to the Chang'e 5 drilling which http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=7760&view=findpost&p=249031.

Posted by: Phil Stooke Jun 2 2024, 06:47 AM

Excellent work finding the site. It looks like we will have to wait about 6 days for an LRO overflight.

Phil

Posted by: kenny Jun 2 2024, 09:16 AM

Posted by: Phil Stooke Jun 2 2024, 06:27 PM

Here is a very preliminary (in finished map terms, not location) map of the landing location to help find it among the sea of craters. Remember that the landing video frames have west at the top, so my site in the last map looks different from the video.

Phil

Oops - will replace shortly! Silly mistake.

OK, Silly mistake corrected and the map more finished than it was before.

Posted by: kenny Jun 2 2024, 09:00 PM

Partial pano posted by Seger Yu.
There is beauty in barrenness...

Posted by: djellison Jun 2 2024, 10:05 PM

QUOTE (kenny @ Jun 2 2024, 01:00 PM)

Posted by: Phil Stooke Jun 2 2024, 10:06 PM

"There is beauty in barrenness..."

True.. but that's not Chang'e 6!

Phil

Posted by: Hungry4info Jun 3 2024, 01:58 AM

Chang'e 6 has been working on the lunar surface for 24 hours.
https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5041064991785109

Posted by: kenny Jun 3 2024, 08:07 AM

Ouch!
Apologies for the erroneous post....
(There is no escape in this group!).

Posted by: John Moore Jun 3 2024, 01:38 PM

Just to put the location in a broader perspective view, as following the video gives some important marker craters.

John

Posted by: Phil Stooke Jun 4 2024, 12:15 AM

Here is the first surface image I have seen:

https://m.weibo.cn/u/7924225687#&gid=1&pid=1

Phil

Posted by: ollopa Jun 4 2024, 12:30 AM

QUOTE (Phil Stooke @ Jun 4 2024, 12:15 AM)

Here is the first surface image I have seen:

https://m.weibo.cn/u/7924225687#&gid=1&pid=1

Phil

Posted by: Explorer1 Jun 4 2024, 12:44 AM

I wonder what the rover's purpose is (any instruments, or just a camera to watch the ascent from a safe distance), like the deployables on the Mars rover?
EDIT: that was fast, away it goes!

Posted by: Cosmic Penguin Jun 4 2024, 12:49 AM

Full summary of the surface operations, including more than 10 minutes of video, are at https://www.cnsa.gov.cn/n6758823/n6758838/c10543020/content.html - but I have trouble downloading them.
I've found more concise versions (surface sampling, sub-surface drilling and ascent stage liftoff), you may found them on Twitter or https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=53670.msg2596906#msg2596906 (too big to attach here).

https://x.com/Cosmic_Penguin/status/1797788647082607092
https://x.com/Cosmic_Penguin/status/1797788650664792550
https://x.com/Cosmic_Penguin/status/1797788653709627858
https://x.com/Cosmic_Penguin/status/1797788657279189366
https://x.com/Cosmic_Penguin/status/1797790105891152308
https://x.com/Cosmic_Penguin/status/1797793019795759220

Posted by: Cosmic Penguin Jun 4 2024, 01:36 AM

More photos from https://www.cnsa.gov.cn/n6758823/n6758838/c10543340/content.html:

First two are descent camera photos during the descent phase
The third one is from the descent camera just after touchdown
The fourth one is from the panoramic camera's north side view with Chaffee crater in the background (edit: better resolution image now up; https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=53670.0;attach=2289346;sess=17027)

Posted by: Cosmic Penguin Jun 4 2024, 01:51 AM

https://www.cnsa.gov.cn/n6758823/n6758838/c10543444/content.html

Posted by: Hungry4info Jun 4 2024, 04:57 AM

Full (?) resolution of the Chang'e 6 panorama.

Posted by: kenny Jun 4 2024, 09:04 AM

Video of sampling activities and ascent to lunar orbit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnonHQ_s1p8



Fuller video of sampling only -- drilling and collection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svW5JNPAD6c&list=PLpGTA7wMEDFhAYAYM6IMG7li4wYhzqaqQ

Posted by: neo56 Jun 4 2024, 08:38 PM

Chang'e 6 panorama, horizon flattened and color levels adjusted.

https://flic.kr/p/2pVtEGP

Posted by: Phil Stooke Jun 5 2024, 12:12 AM

Very nice! Thanks.

I have been looking at the sample collection videos and there are enough details to put together this sequence. Ci and C2 are surface contacts made by the circular part of the sampling mechanism before the first two samples were dug. If more contacts were made throughout the sequence, they have not shown up yet in videos.

Phil

Posted by: kenny Jun 5 2024, 10:53 AM

Horizon view in a different direction, with distant hill.

Posted by: Phil Stooke Jun 5 2024, 06:11 PM

Kenny... that is Chang'e 5. Seger Yu was comparing the two panoramas.

Phil

Posted by: kenny Jun 5 2024, 07:37 PM

Argh! My Mandarin let me down...

thanks Phil!

Posted by: Phil Stooke Jun 5 2024, 10:26 PM

It's a full-time job keeping you on the straight and narrow, Kenny.

I have found that those surface contacts I noted earlier, before the first two sample scoops, were designed to locate the surface accurately before using the scoop. The whole process was largely autonomous.

Phil