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Posted by: Geert Mar 3 2009, 06:27 AM

According tohttp://www.moondaily.com/reports/China_To_Land_Probe_On_Moon_At_Latest_In_2013_999.html China plans a (unmanned) moonlanding for 2013.

The article contains an http://www.moondaily.com/images/china-moon-lunar-vehicle-art-bg.jpg taking off from the moon which indeed looks a lot like a (Soviet) Y8E derived vehicle.

If this is true, my earlier remark here that this landingsite might be selected for its option to fly a direct ascent trajectory back to earth seems to make sense, they might indeed be planning to attempt a sample-return mission with a moonlanding in the vicinity of the present crash-site.

Regards,

Geert.

Posted by: yaohua2000 Oct 6 2010, 01:40 AM

As an enthusiast from China, NASA and the United States have disappointed me a lot. From the cancelled Jupiter Icy Moons Orbiter and Mars Telecommunication Orbiter, to the delayed Mars Science Laboratory and the dying Constellation Program... I have almost lost the confidence and patient.

But based on reports from various sources, I think China is serious this time. There will be a Mars Pathfinder-like small lunar rover in 2013, and a sample return mission in 2017. It is just amazing, even by NASA/JPL's standard.

And China so far has a good record to get things done on time.

Posted by: Explorer1 Oct 6 2010, 01:46 AM

Well, JIMO was replaced, and Mars seems to be as high a priority as ever, not to mention all those other missions.

The Moon is mostly appealing since the environment is so well known, after 50 years of missions. Compare the success rate percentage for missions to the Moon with Mars. Better accessibility then anything apart from LEO too. Everyone knows what to expect on the surface, at least on the near side.

Posted by: nprev Oct 6 2010, 01:52 AM

Just a gentle reminder for everyone to review http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?act=boardrules...everybody play nice!

Posted by: Phil Stooke Oct 6 2010, 01:53 AM

I am pleased to see China exploring the Moon like this. I understand that, as there have been two orbiters (counting Chang-e 2), there will also be two landers with rovers and two sample return missions. Earlier reports spoke of three stages in exploration, but there would be two missions in each stage.

Phil

Posted by: charborob Oct 6 2010, 02:09 AM

See this report on Spacedaily.com: http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Four_Chinese_Lunar_Landers_Mooted_999.html

Posted by: yaohua2000 Mar 11 2012, 01:16 PM

Lunar Rover Test in the Kumtag Desert, Gansu Province

Posted by: yaohua2000 Mar 11 2012, 01:18 PM

Chang'e 3 lunar rover, due to launch in 2013.

Posted by: Phil Stooke Mar 11 2012, 09:10 PM

Wonderful pictures, thanks for posting them here. I am really looking forward to this mission. I hope we will be able to see daily reports on the rover's activities.

It will be interesting to see if any Google Lunar X Prize team attempts a mission before Chang-E 3 in October 2013. I suspect not, I think China will have the next lander on the Moon.

Phil

Posted by: SFJCody Mar 11 2012, 10:57 PM

Is that rocker-bogie? Doesn't JPL have a patent on that?

Posted by: stevesliva Mar 12 2012, 01:14 AM

They do, although they probably won't sweat the noncommercial use of it.

Posted by: hendric Mar 12 2012, 04:03 PM

Wouldn't matter unless JPL patented it in China.

edit:

Looking at these pictures, it makes Scooterlord's MER render that much more amazing. Is it real, or is it Scooterlord? ™

Posted by: kenny Mar 14 2012, 09:11 AM

The Chinese rover wheels are reminiscent of the Lunokods of the 1970s.

Posted by: elakdawalla Mar 15 2012, 07:48 PM

Can you post the original URL where these images came from?

(Cool stuff.)

Posted by: yaohua2000 Mar 15 2012, 08:12 PM

From 9ifly forums: http://www.9ifly.cn/thread-364-5-2.html

The first few pictures were originally posted as a travelogue by ticker@newsmth (a team member): http://www.newsmth.net/bbsbfind.php?q=1&board=Travel&userid=ticks&dt=1000

Posted by: Phil Stooke Jul 25 2012, 04:39 PM

Chang'E-3 landing area:

http://meetingorganizer.copernicus.org/EPSC2012/EPSC2012-151-1.pdf

Phil

Posted by: Phil Stooke Jul 25 2012, 11:15 PM

The landing area shown in that abstract is plotted here as a red box on a Quickmap background:

So not necessarily literally in Sinus Iridum, it may be outside but nearby. I don't know of other areas with the very high resolution coverage, so Chang'E 4 may be targeted for the same region, and maybe even the later sample return missions. Still quite a lot of scope for different sites and surface compositions here.

Phil

Posted by: tolis Sep 9 2012, 04:57 PM

Back to lunar missions where the Chang'e 3 lunar lander is expected to fly
to the Moon "in the second half of 2013".

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/video/2012-07/31/c_131750533.htm


Tolis.

Posted by: tolis Sep 19 2012, 09:45 PM

Hawaii partners with China on Moon landing:

http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2012/09/14/17074-hawaii-partners-with-china-on-moon-landing/


Tolis.

Posted by: Hungry4info Oct 23 2012, 08:16 PM

Chang'e 3's RTG could permit it a 30 year lifespan.
http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/news/2012/10/china-plans-2013-mars-exploration-moon-landing

Posted by: Phil Stooke Oct 24 2012, 01:02 PM

Of course, a mechanical or electronic failure is likely to end the mission long before the RTG wears out (same as on Curiosity)

Phil

Posted by: Paolo Dec 15 2012, 02:20 PM

in free access and creative commons: http://csb.scichina.com:8080/kxtbe/EN/abstract/abstract507354.shtml

Posted by: elakdawalla Jan 4 2013, 07:56 PM

I've put together http://www.flickr.com/photos/planetaryblog/sets/72157632426301226/. There is one particularly visually striking little animation that was shown as part of a news broadcast, showing the rover making tracks on the Moon, driving toward the Sun. I'm using it to illustrate my story on Chang'E 3 even though the quality of the screen grab is very poor. I would love to try to create a higher-resolution version of this illustration by combining some lunar landscape photo with some hand-drawn silhouette of the rover, but I don't have time to try and don't even know if my artistic ability is up to the task. So I throw the idea out there in case anyone else wants to take up that challenge!

Bonus: http://www.flickr.com/photos/planetaryblog/sets/72157632424681749/.

Posted by: Paolo Jan 5 2013, 09:36 AM

I don't understand why space geeks are not excited about Chang'e 3. I mean, I have seen a space.com post on the 13 missions worth following in 2013 and it's not even included...
just a reminder for the history-oriented: CE-3 will attempt the first lunar soft landing in 37 years (since Luna 24 in 1976) and will deploy the first lunar rover in 40 years! (the last was Lunokhod 2 in 1973!)

Posted by: tolis Jan 5 2013, 12:13 PM

I would say that partly to blame is the (relative) lack of publicly available information. I suspect
that, once it launches and touches down everyone will go bonkers about it.

By the way, the image that accompanies Emily's most recent post reminds
me of an animation of MER rover operation that was created for PR purposes
before landing back in the early 00s. I recall seeing the MER roving
towards the sun during the concluding part of that animation.

I also wonder if any part of the landing sequence for CE3 could be visible from Earth.

Posted by: nprev Jan 5 2013, 12:37 PM

I suppose that the landing might be barely visible to LRO if the latter is in a favorable orbital position at the time, but suspect it would be quite underwhelming since of course Chang'e-3 won't be using a parachute.

Posted by: Astro0 Jan 7 2013, 11:36 AM

Challenge accepted and a file already sent to you.

Will post it here later with your OK.

Posted by: smh Jan 8 2013, 04:48 PM

I can't find any information on how the RTG is powered? Does China have it's own PU-238?

Posted by: Astro0 Jan 10 2013, 06:16 AM

Nice article by Emily compiling all the information available on the Chang'E 3 mission.
http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2013/01091341-change-3-lunar-lander.html

Hey, and is that my illustration of the rover on the Moon I see??!!
Yes, shameless self congratulations

You're welcome science fans

Posted by: Cosmic Penguin Jan 10 2013, 07:16 AM

Ouyang Ziyuan is reporting that the launch of Chang'e 3 may come as soon as June 2013! That's much earlier than what I have expected......

http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2013-01-10/033925998072.shtml

Posted by: Cosmic Penguin Mar 8 2013, 12:40 PM

Just saw a Chinese news report interviewing the person in charge of rocket production for the CE-3 launch (plus others of the same series) that the launch is scheduled in early December! (http://news.cntv.cn/2013/03/08/VIDE1362742325390719.shtml)

Also I have translated another article a week before that roughly gives out the tests that have been completed and still needs to be done before launch (http://www.spacechina.com/n25/n144/n206/n214/c389766/content.html):

Completed

- Flight hardware development and acceptance
- Lander / rover final assembly and combined testing
- Electromagnetic compatibility tests
- Lander / rover separation and release testing
- Mechanical force testing

Coming up

- Thermal balance and vacuum testing
- Modal strength testing on key components (wheels and landing gears?)
- Mission simulation with the spacecraft control center at Beijing

Posted by: Phil Stooke Mar 8 2013, 04:15 PM

Thanks for this. Late in the year is what had been expected for a few years, but I had been quite excited with the idea it might happen in June! Anyway it will be a very interesting mission. I hope we will get frequent updates on its activities.

Phil

Posted by: Cosmic Penguin Mar 16 2013, 09:05 AM

Anyone have seen information (papers, abstracts, presentations etc.) about what is expected at Sinus Iridum (geology etc.) and the scientific operations on the Moon for CE-3? I had a cursory check on the planned presentations at LPSC 2013, and was disappointed to see only two (and not quite what I am trying to find):

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2013/pdf/1556.pdf

http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2013/pdf/1083.pdf

I really wanted to see what can be expected for the first lunar in-situ exploration mission in almost 40 years......

Posted by: machi Mar 17 2013, 11:36 AM

Cosmic Penguin:

This is pretty easy, you can find available sources via http://scholar.google.cz/scholar?hl=cs&q=%22Sinus+Iridum%22&btnG=Odeslat.
Here is geologic map of Sinus Iridum area - http://pubs.usgs.gov/imap/0602/plate-1.pdf.

Posted by: Cosmic Penguin Mar 17 2013, 03:30 PM

Heh, I was just ranting on the lack of information on the science instruments on Chang'e 3, and then I went to Google Scholar and found a bunch of them - I think members with access to these papers will find them interesting to read.

The links in italics are available to the general public.

(List will be updated as I find more related papers)

Lander

PanCam: (none found yet)

Lunar-based Ultraviolet Telescope (LUT): http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0273117711005734

Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUV) (for plasmasphere studies): http://plasmasphere.aeronomie.be/pdf/He_2011_JGR_2010JA016364.pdf http://www.agu.org/wps/ChineseJGeo/55/01/hf.pdf


Rover

PanCam: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2013/pdf/1556.pdf http://www.atlantis-press.com/php/download_paper.php?id=4645

VIS/NIR Imaging Spectrometer (VNIS): http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/ipm2012/pdf/1007.pdf

Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS): http://www.gpxygpfx.com/qikan/epaper/zhaiyao.asp?bsid=20161

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR): http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2012/pdf/1274.pdf http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=6254994 http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=6254992

Hope this helps.

Posted by: Phil Stooke Apr 26 2013, 10:56 AM

This report (right at the end):

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/04/china-back-in-action-long-march-2d-gaofen-1/

says Chang'E 3 will launch in December.

Phil

Posted by: Cosmic Penguin May 9 2013, 02:40 PM

The Chinese are now doing the final major test - thermal testing - for the lander and rover right now (since sometime in April actually). And yes it seems that early December is what the Chinese are heading for the launch.

And I got a bunch of high-res photos of the spacecraft being processed for testing! http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=26848.msg1049427#msg1049427

Posted by: elakdawalla May 9 2013, 03:00 PM

What's the provenance of those photos? They're watermarked "China Space News" but I don't find a website or organization called that, at least not in English. Can you link to the Chinese website that they originated from? Is it a Chinese language periodical? http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&ved=0CFsQFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FChina-Space-News%2Fdp%2FB00024CVD8&ei=fbmLUbznMqOEiAKD0YDgAQ&usg=AFQjCNH8i_9eKWWOG2peRFaCbi-WaUcKAw&sig2=8MBbnERwgGorWdinbSytGQ&bvm=bv.46340616,d.cGE&cad=rja.

Posted by: Paolo May 9 2013, 05:06 PM

I think pics were first posted here http://210.82.31.84:9000/rp/fs/cp/98/36/20130508/4/content_0.htm

Posted by: Phil Stooke Jun 6 2013, 09:00 PM

I've been preparing some graphics for Chang'E 3, and thinking about things a bit.

This is a map of the landing area:

It's a composite of LROC-WAC images from Quickmap and the Clementine false-color map, showing the dramatic difference in lava flow types in Mare Imbrium first noted by Ewen Whitaker in the 1960s. 'Blue' lavas overlie 'yellow' lavas. (I have cosmetically removed some small but ugly data gaps.) The white box is the Chang'E 3 landing area, often said to be just Sinus Iridum, but actually extending well outside it. This area is approximately 80% covered by Chang'E 2 images with resolution of about 1.5 to 2.0 m/pixel.

This is the only area of the Moon covered by Chang'E 2 at such high resolution. So it would seem to me that it is intended to serve as the landing area for future landers as well as Chang'E 3. Chang'E 4 is another rover scheduled for 2014 or 2015 (just a hunch - will it carry a GLXP secondary payload? - no official word yet, I am just surmising based on fragmentary public information). Chang'E 5 and 6 are sample return missions scheduled for approximately 2017 and 2018. If the sample return missions come here it would make lots of sense to have one in each lava flow type. The two preliminary rovers might be designed to do a bit of in situ analysis in each area in preparation for the later missions.

Another thought - the ground-penetrating radar on CE3 might detect the contact between the blue and yellow lavas if it lands in the blue unit.

Phil

Posted by: elakdawalla Jun 6 2013, 11:23 PM

In the absence of much detailed scientific information it's nice to have such well-informed speculation

Are those blue lavas the high-Ti basalts or something different?

Posted by: Phil Stooke Jun 6 2013, 11:35 PM

Yes, Emily, they are high Ti.

Of course, you can't trust mere speculation!

Phil

Posted by: Cosmic Penguin Aug 7 2013, 12:46 PM

Apparently the launch of Chang'e 3 is scheduled at ~17:00 UTC on December 1st! http://bbs.astron.ac.cn/thread-93001-1-1.html by an astronomer at the Shanghai Observatory, which will use their 65 meter radio telescope to help track CE-3 on its way to the Moon.

Posted by: Phil Stooke Aug 7 2013, 08:18 PM

Excellent news. Thanks for this. I am so looking forward to having something on the surface of the Moon again.

My next wish... is to learn of the exact landing target they are aiming for.

Phil

Posted by: tedstryk Aug 11 2013, 11:57 AM

I'm just excited that we may be about to see the first lunar landing in my lifetime.

Posted by: Doug M. Aug 12 2013, 09:14 AM

With less than four months to go before launch, Chang'e seems to have attracted very little mainstream media attention. Nobody outside of a small circle of space enthusiasts seems to be aware that China will attempt a Moon landing before the end of this year.

Which leads to a question: if Chang'e works as planned, what would you expect the public response to be? Astonishment? Appreciation? Calls for a new Moon race? Or "meh, been there, done that"?


Doug M.

Posted by: Phil Stooke Aug 12 2013, 12:58 PM

Envy?

Phil

Posted by: tolis Aug 15 2013, 01:57 PM

If that piece of information is accurate I wonder to what degree that constrains the flight time and landing date, given that
launch will occur a day before New Moon and (presumably) the landing needs to take place in sunlight and as early
in the lunar day as possible. The Sun rises at Sinus Iridum on Dec 12, sets on Dec 27th and rises again
on Jan 11th.

Posted by: tolis Aug 15 2013, 02:01 PM

One could draw an analogy with Hayabusa. Before arrival at Itokawa, the mission was very low-key. Afterwards, with
all these nice close-ups..btw, Chang'e 3 will bring the first CCD cameras to the lunar surface (yes, it *has* been that long!).

Posted by: djellison Aug 15 2013, 02:27 PM

There are lots of CCD cameras on the lunar surface. They're just part of debris fields

Posted by: Phil Stooke Aug 28 2013, 03:05 PM

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2013/08/28/china-moon-space.html

Not too long now! You will note that the article mentions two landers, the second meaning Chang'E 4 in another year or two.

Phil

Posted by: stone Aug 28 2013, 07:33 PM

From some time ago I thought Chang'E 4 is only a backup if Chang'E 3 does not work and the next will be Chang'E 5. Chang'E 5 was planned as a sample return. The available material is thin.

Posted by: Phil Stooke Aug 28 2013, 09:23 PM

No, as with Chang'E 1 and 2, the second is a backup but if the first is successful the second will fly as well, going to a different location and maybe with improved equipment. Somewhere I have read that Chang'E 4 may have more autonomous driving capability.

Phil

Posted by: Phil Stooke Sep 5 2013, 02:14 PM

This is the program for a Chinese lunar and planetary exploration meeting, going on right now.

http://lunar.csp.escience.cn/dct/page/65580

Some interesting talks - I wish we had abstracts. Some refer specifically to the upcoming landing mission.

Phil

Posted by: Phil Stooke Sep 21 2013, 11:24 PM

http://ms2013.cosmos.ru/sites/ms2013.cosmos.ru/files/4m-s3_program-09-20.pdf



This is the program for the Fourth Moscow Solar System Symposium, to be held next month. Check out this item near the bottom:


4MS3-NP-9 Jinsong Ping et al Chang’E-3/4 Lunar Landing Missions and Lunar Radio Science Experiments


We usually get abstracts after the meeting, and in the past full presentations as well (though they might be diverted into journal articles this year). I will be, as the expression is, 'gagging' for further details.

Phil

Posted by: Paolo Oct 12 2013, 07:40 AM

A pre-print from Science China: http://tech.scichina.com:8082/sciEe/EN/abstract/abstract512308.shtml#
As far as I can see from a quick look, there are not many new infos on the mission or spacecraft

Posted by: yaohua2000 Oct 27 2013, 01:35 PM

Lunar rover naming contest phase 1 of 4 completed. The top 10 candidates are:

* Yutu (Jade Rabbit)
* Tansuo (Explorer/Exploring)
* Lanyue ("Pull the Moon into one's arm")
* Qianxuesen (aka Tsien Hsue-shen)
* Zhuimeng (Chasing Dream)
* Xunmeng (Seeking Dream)
* Zhuiyue (Chasing the Moon)
* Mengxiang (Dream)
* Shiming (Mission)
* Qianjin (Forward)

Phase 2 will choose three names from these ten. Vote at http://www.xinhuanet.com/forum/zt2013/yqctp/index.htm until October 31.

Posted by: nprev Oct 27 2013, 10:53 PM

Yaohua, is this open to everyone or only PRC citizens?

Posted by: yaohua2000 Oct 28 2013, 12:00 AM

You mean the vote? Yes, everyone.

Posted by: nprev Oct 28 2013, 12:23 AM

I did. Thanks!

Posted by: yaohua2000 Oct 29 2013, 01:47 PM

Fan work by pockn@9ifly:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsphRNwo_io

Posted by: Phil Stooke Oct 29 2013, 11:45 PM

Thanks for the link - I'm sure we all really appreciate your help finding these things. I certainly do. This is going to be an exciting mission.

Phil

Posted by: dvandorn Oct 30 2013, 05:00 AM

I read at the LROC site that they are looking forward to the Chang'e landing so they can get good "before" images of a landing site as well as "after" images, since they have no such thing at present. They are hoping they have decent resolution imaging of the eventual landing site -- they can't be certain because the Chinese have not specified the exact planned co-ordinates.

-the other Doug

Posted by: Phil Stooke Oct 30 2013, 02:21 PM

Interesting comment. 'They' at LROC don't have pre-landing images of any other site, of course, but 'we' as a planet do, since there are good Lunar Orbiter images of Apollo 11, 12 and 14 pre-landing, and Apollo images of Apollo 16 and 17 pre-landing, and Lunar Orbiter images of Surveyors 3, 6 and 7 pre-landing. (Only mediocre images of Apollo 15 pre-landing though).

Now LRO is in a higher orbit their post-landing images will be less eye-popping than earlier lander images, too.

Phil

Posted by: dvandorn Oct 30 2013, 02:59 PM

They appear to be concerned only with LROC NAC imagery in re capturing "before" images. The exact quote from the LROC site is:

"If we are lucky, the LROC team might have a before picture to compare to any after pictures of the Chang'e 3 landing site (the exact planned landing coordinates have not yet been released). Currently all LROC NAC investigations must rely solely on 'after' images of landing sites. Obtaining a before and after set of images of the Chang'e 3 will facilitate a much better understanding of the delicate processes involved in regolith redistribution due to lander rocket plumes."

-the other Doug

Posted by: ollopa Oct 30 2013, 11:14 PM

Does anyone have any insights into the rover deployment sequence?

Early drawings showed it mounted on the side of the lander (LRV-style) and pivoting onto the trackway about 75 cm from the surface, with a shallow incline.

A presentation last year by CLEP chief scientist Ouyang Ziyuan seemed to show a fork-lift truck type lift assembly to deliver the rover from atop the lander to the surface.

A report last weekend on CNTV showed the rover "walking the plank" Wile E. Coyote-style, with the trackway suspended 2 meters above the surface and ending in mid-air.

Clearly, not all depictions are to be trusted!

However, the final configuration seems to have the rover mounted atop a circa. 2-meter-tall main bus, with a vertiginous trackway descending in only one direction.

Does this not break at least two cardinal rules of rover delivery? 1) Keep your centre of mass low. 2) Give yourself an alternative exit route in case a boulder blocks one pathway.

Posted by: Phil Stooke Oct 31 2013, 06:02 PM

I can't really answer your question with certainty, but my impression from reviewing many images is that the pictures you refer to are showing different parts of the process. The 'walk the plank' image shows the rover moving onto the 'fork lift' supports. Then it is lowered part way to the surface, from which it rolls off on ramps. Some pictures out there probably show earlier thoughts about deployment.

Only one way off? But large rocks are rare except in fresh crater ejecta, and with hazard avoidance during descent those bad areas can be avoided. The dangers of rover deployment may have been exaggerated in the past.

Phil

Posted by: Explorer1 Oct 31 2013, 06:53 PM

What are the chances they would merely select a site that's already received LROC coverage? It would be both scientifically interesting and surveyed for landing safety: two birds with one stone...

Posted by: Phil Stooke Oct 31 2013, 07:06 PM

Remember they have their own c. 1.5 m/pixel images as well.

As for selecting an area already imaged by LROC, a look at Quickmap suggests most of the likely area is already imaged so it shouldn't be too difficult, but only part of that is imaged at the 0.5 m resolution of the earlier orbits. Now they are in a higher orbit they are getting only ('only'!) 2 m/pixel. Depending on the aiming accuracy, they may not be able to guarantee they will get into a high resolution strip. For reasons of national pride they may be more interested in getting into their own high resolution coverage.

Phil

Posted by: Hungry4info Nov 2 2013, 04:36 AM

This video, posted today to YouTube, shows a good view of the set-up at 0:30. The way I understand it, the tracks on the side of the lander extend out and unfold in such a way where the rover will be able to drive off the top.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEd0TljENBc

Posted by: Explorer1 Nov 2 2013, 07:25 AM

I would ordinarily say it looks way too complicated with all those moving parts, but in the wake of the skycrane I don't think we can complain.

Posted by: ollopa Nov 2 2013, 03:40 PM

I draped the annotated map from today's Youtube video over Google Moon (1) and had an interesting, if highly speculative, result when I zoomed in to the right-hand character on the CCTV map and compared it with the CCTV close-up scene(2).

1:

2:


Can anyone translate the two single-character labels within Sinus Iridum? Even better, is there anyone who can give a summary translation of relevant parts of the video?


The kmg file is here: http://j.mp/CCTV_Map

Posted by: Phil Stooke Nov 2 2013, 04:07 PM

Hi - check this out:

http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily-lakdawalla/2010/2773.html

To see where that image really is.

We can't assume that the image is the landing site - that was the first high resolution image strip from the Chang'E 2 low orbit, so the most widely seen.

Phil

Posted by: infocat13 Nov 2 2013, 05:44 PM

this site and the planetary blog cited in this paper


http://www.aerospaceamerica.org/Documents/AerospaceAmerica-PDFs-2013/November-2013/Feature_ChinasBoldLunarPlan_AANov2013.pdf

Posted by: djellison Nov 2 2013, 07:42 PM

No - not this site. Nasaspaceflight.com - great resource.

Posted by: yaohua2000 Nov 2 2013, 08:31 PM

我国获取的月球虹湾地区三维影像 3d image of lunar bay of rainbow region obtained by our country
虹湾 bay of rainbow
拉普拉斯海角 cape laplace

Posted by: Phil Stooke Nov 14 2013, 05:40 PM

If you go here:

http://ms2013.cosmos.ru/

you can download the abstracts for the recent 4th Moscow Solar System Symposium - a 25MB PDF. Look down to page 133 for a description of Chang'E 3 and 4 missions, with some new information.

Lots of other goodies in there too.

Phil

Posted by: Cosmic Penguin Nov 25 2013, 01:57 PM

There's a CNSA press conference early tomorrow (1 am GMT) - expect the Chang'e 3 mission timeline and other details to come out by then.

Posted by: Phil Stooke Nov 25 2013, 03:01 PM

Thanks!

Phil

Posted by: Cosmic Penguin Nov 26 2013, 03:25 AM

Not much has been said I'm afraid - in particular the mission plan from launch date to landing is completely missing.

As for the rest, Emily has it covered on Twitter.

Posted by: elakdawalla Nov 26 2013, 03:28 AM

They did say the name "Yutu" or "Jade Rabbit" has been chosen for the rover.

Posted by: dvandorn Nov 26 2013, 04:15 AM

Jade Rabbit? Really?

For those who know the Chinese myth of Chang'e, this makes perfect sense. It also means that we ought to be able to identify the intended landing site.

Since Change's companion, a large rabbit, was always seen sitting in the shade of a large cinnamon tree, all Phil has to do is find said large cinnamon tree in Sinus Iridum, and we have our landing site...



-the other Doug

Posted by: PaulH51 Nov 26 2013, 06:14 AM

The Chinese do not see the 'Man in the Moon' face that is common in Western folklore.

They see a Rabbit.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rabbit_in_the_moon_standing_by_pot.png

Many books show the rabbit coloured green standing over a pot, as in this example from Wikipedia.... Maybe that is why they chose 'Jade Rabbit'?

Posted by: Phil Stooke Nov 26 2013, 11:50 AM

"...all Phil has to do is find said large cinnamon tree in Sinus Iridum"

I'm on it!

Phil

Posted by: ollopa Nov 26 2013, 12:04 PM

I wish I could add some solid information about upcoming events, but in its absence here's an historical oddity.

Buzz Aldrin, Chang'e and the Jade Rabbit on the day he landed on the Moon:

http://history.nasa.gov/ap11fj/audio/0951609.mp3


http://history.nasa.gov/ap11fj/14day5-landing-prep.htm

Posted by: Cosmic Penguin Nov 26 2013, 02:51 PM

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=26848.msg1124566#msg1124566 has been able to found out the critical time points of the mission from staff working in the MCC!

Launch window: December 1 @ ~17:00 - 17:30 GMT
LOI: December 6 @ ~02:30 GMT
Landing: December 16 (should be around noon GMT as the Moon rises over China - http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=11199&pid=264107 gives the center of the landing window at 12:36 GMT)

Posted by: Phil Stooke Nov 26 2013, 03:24 PM

This is good... now I am hoping to see an exact landing site announced.

Phil

Posted by: dvandorn Nov 26 2013, 06:14 PM

It was actually Mike Collins who made the bunny girl comment. Unfortunately, there are a number of transcriptions of the Apollo missions out there, some of which are unreliable when it comes to correct attribution. In this case, not only does your linked transcript give Collins as the person who said it, but also, Collins reminisces about the exchange in his memoir, "Carrying the Fire."

That exchange was the first I had heard of the ancient Chinese myth of Chang'e, after which I read up on it a little. When I found that China was naming their unmanned lunar exploration program after Chang'e, I was literally tickled pink.

-the other Doug

Posted by: machi Nov 29 2013, 11:40 AM

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Operations/Helping_China_to_the_Moon, launch is planned at 18:00 GMT (December 1).
ESA's tracking stations will be helping with tracking during flight and landing.

Posted by: kenny Dec 1 2013, 01:19 PM

Leonard David at space dot com is reporting launch time of today (Sunday) 12:30 p.m. EST, or 17:30 GMT (i.e. current British winter time), although it will be
1:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 2 at China's Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

Posted by: DEChengst Dec 1 2013, 04:04 PM

CCTV News live coverage started:

http://english.cntv.cn/live/p2p/index.shtml

Posted by: kenny Dec 1 2013, 04:45 PM

CCTV confirms launch 1:30 am Monday China time, which implies ESA got it wrong, and we should use Leonard David's times (above) for this afternoon.

Posted by: Mr Valiant Dec 1 2013, 05:16 PM

[quote name='ollopa' date='Nov 26 2013, 12:04 PM' post='204734']
I wish I could add some solid information about upcoming events, but in its absence here's an historical oddity.

Buzz Aldrin, Chang'e and the Jade Rabbit on the day he landed on the Moon:

A tad OT, but in reference to the above.

In the early 80's, a member of my local (Australia) Astro club, purchased and shared the video...
'The Greatest Film Ever Made'
which detailed the flight of Apollo 11.
Can't find it on the usual sites.
Any ideas?

Posted by: algorithm Dec 1 2013, 05:34 PM

Picture perfect launch, bang on time.

Posted by: algorithm Dec 1 2013, 05:35 PM

Onboard cameras showing payload, second stage, and 1st stage, great coverage.

Posted by: Ron Hobbs Dec 1 2013, 05:37 PM

Incredible pictures! Go Chang'e 3!!

Posted by: Seryddwr Dec 1 2013, 05:40 PM

Still looking good. MAVEN, then MOM, now Chang'e 3... quite an exciting few weeks! Here's to a successful landing!

Posted by: algorithm Dec 1 2013, 05:40 PM

second stage separation, camera strapped to third stage showing plasma thrust,530 seconds into launch, brilliant pictures.

Posted by: algorithm Dec 1 2013, 05:42 PM

Coasting.

Posted by: kenny Dec 1 2013, 05:43 PM

3rd stage shut down on time, now enters orbital coast period for a minute or so, then due to re-ignite for trans-lunar phase..

Posted by: algorithm Dec 1 2013, 05:44 PM

Re-ignition

Posted by: Explorer1 Dec 1 2013, 05:44 PM

We still have a camera view this long after, wow!

Edit: horizon, seperation!

Posted by: algorithm Dec 1 2013, 05:50 PM

Separation of Lunar probe. Well done!

Posted by: algorithm Dec 1 2013, 05:55 PM

Probe engines now burning, Change 3 on its way.

Posted by: machi Dec 1 2013, 05:59 PM

Small collage of the Change-3 after separation from the last stage.

Posted by: Explorer1 Dec 1 2013, 06:00 PM

The Pacific!
Even spinning the final stage to look back at Earth; they sure know how to put on a show! Look at that curvature!

Posted by: kenny Dec 1 2013, 06:06 PM

They are saying it is now in an Earth-Moon transfer orbit with an apogee of 360,000 km, so Chang'e 3 is successfully en route to the Moon. Congratulations!

Wonderful colour video of the probe separating, manoeuvring with attitude control jets, sunrise over the Pacific, etc.

Posted by: craigmcg Dec 1 2013, 07:20 PM

The best coverage I've seen a a launch. Well done!

Posted by: climber Dec 1 2013, 07:24 PM

I segond that!

Posted by: dilo Dec 1 2013, 09:10 PM

[Damn, I missed all! Could someone give me a replay link? Thanks!

Posted by: Thorsten Denk Dec 1 2013, 09:25 PM

Look here:
http://english.cntv.cn/program/asiatoday/20131202/100389.shtml

Thorsten

Posted by: dilo Dec 2 2013, 05:23 AM

Thanks Denk! Separation is really spectacular, even though I suspect that, initially, the glare is due to a solar reflection and not to the probe thrusters!
There is also a shorter video with many dramatic views of liftoff:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctTBRWMh3yw

Posted by: kenny Dec 2 2013, 09:52 AM

They have reported that the landing legs, which were tucked under the spacecraft for launch, have been deployed. The four gold colored footpads can be seen
in the section of the movie showing the separation of the spacecraft from the final stage of the launcher. Also, the solar panels are open. Chinese TV have stated
it will land "in 2 weeks".

The last time we saw a new location on the lunar surface from ground level was Jan 1973, with Luna 21 and the Lunokhod 2 rover. So here's hoping!

Posted by: kenny Dec 2 2013, 10:49 AM

I don't think that intense brightness is solar flare. The craft apparently has 8 x 150N thrusters in addition to the small attitude control thrusters of 10N each, plus
the main descent engine.

" These eight 150N thrusters are likely used for smaller Trajectory Correction Manoeuvres during the Earth-Moon transfer and small orbital adjustments (&
possibly during LOI and landing). "

http://www.spaceflight101.com/change-3.html

I think the flare is us seeing those intermediate thrusters ensuring adequate separation of the probe from the rocket stage.

Posted by: dshaffer Dec 2 2013, 12:58 PM

I believe the Lander was "yawing", so the flaring was caused by reflection off the side (shiny surfaces).
You can tell by the thruster firings just before, that indicate a change in attitude.

Posted by: djellison Dec 2 2013, 02:42 PM

No - the way the flare appeared - from the one, sunlit side of the spacecraft as both spacecraft and third stage entered into sunrise - it was lens-flare of a specular reflecting on gold MLI.

Posted by: kenny Dec 2 2013, 03:07 PM

Happy to stand corrected on the flaring....

Latest announcement says Chang'e 3 performed its first course correction manoeuvre about 7 hours ago (3:50pm Beijing time),
when it was 138,000 km from Earth. It is well on its way, and seems to be functioning properly.

Posted by: charborob Dec 3 2013, 06:30 PM

http://www.spaceflight101.com/change-3.html describes Chang-e 3's mission and instruments. See under "Lander cameras" for a description of the cameras installed on the lander. Here is the pertinent information:

-------------
"In addition to its three Pancams, the lander is equipped with a single Descent Camera that was tested on the Chang’e 2 spacecraft. The Micro-CMOS camera provides images of 1,280 by 1,024 pixels during the descent to the lunar surface. Details such as exposure times and frame rate have not been given.
The nadir-facing camera is expected to be active when the lander is hovering 100 meters above the surface of the Moon, taking images of the landing site to help rover mission planners to select drive routes later in the mission. The camera is likely taking images all the way down to the surface as the lander makes its constant low velocity descent to an altitude of 4 meters for engine shutdown.
Previous Chang’e missions also included a range of engineering cameras to obtain images and video of important activities of the spacecraft such as solar array deployment and main engine burns. Whether Chang’e 3 also includes such cameras is unknown."
------------

Looks like there is a "MARDI-like" camera on the lander.

I just hope China makes the photos public.

Posted by: Toma B Dec 5 2013, 06:31 PM

Some news are coming in:

Almost there.......

Posted by: kenny Dec 6 2013, 10:46 AM

Chang'e 3 has completed its lunar orbit insertion, and will stay in lunar orbit for the next 9 days prior to descent and landing.
It is in its planned polar orbit at an altitude of 100 kilometers.

Landing attempt due on December 14.

http://www.spaceflight101.com/change-3-mission-updates.html

Another big milestone in a very smooth mission so far....

Posted by: Astro0 Dec 6 2013, 10:55 AM

ESA Operations' twitter reports:

@esaoperations: #China's #ChangE3 entered lunar orbit ~10:53 CET acc to @XHNews state news agency. Congrats also from ESA OPS!

BEIJING, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- China's Chang'e-3 probe entered the circular lunar orbit at 5:53 p.m. Friday Beijing Time, after about 112 hours of flying along Earth-Moon transfer orbit, the Beijing Aeropspace Control Center (BACC) said.

Posted by: Toma B Dec 6 2013, 01:14 PM

I just found this SPECIAL PAGE for Chang'e lunar mission on CCTV.com.
Here is direct link: http://english.cntv.cn/special/lunarmission/index.shtml

There are some really fine details about this mission in following three animations:
http://english.cntv.cn/program/newsupdate/20131202/102122.shtml
http://english.cntv.cn/program/newsupdate/20131202/100123.shtml
http://english.cntv.cn/program/newsupdate/20131202/100102.shtml

Posted by: Cosmic Penguin Dec 7 2013, 06:41 AM

I have just found some good introduction materials for all the 8 science instruments on the lander and rover (4 on each)! (http://bbs.9ifly.cn/thread-11199-47-1.html) Here are the details of each of them (translated by myself - please point out if I have mis-translated something as I am not well-versed with geology and chemistry instruments):

Lander instruments

MastCam

Objectives: Acquisition of landing area optical photographs for surveying the terrain and geological features of the landing zone.

Position: On top of the mast of the lander

Features:

* Acquisition of landing zone photographs
* Monitor the movement of rover on the lunar surface
* With multi-color imaging ability
* Can shoot both photographs and videos
* Can tweak focusing automatically
* With ability to minimize scattered lights and image compression

Major sub-systems: Optical system, Mechanical system

Operator: Institute of Optics and Electronics (IOE), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)



Descent Camera

Objectives: Acquisition of landing area optical photographs for surveying the terrain and geological features of the landing zone at altitudes between 2-4 km.

Position: At the bottom of the lander

Features:

* Highly miniaturized design; light weight, small volume, low energy consumption, high performance
* Can withstand high levels of radiation, temperature difference and violent vibrations at launch
* CMOS sensor used
* High-speed static grey-scale image compression used
* Has automatic focusing

Major sub-systems: Optical system, Imagery receiving and processing electric box

Operator: Beijing Institute of Space Machinery and Electricity (BISME), China Academy of Space Technology (CAST)



Lunar-based Ultraviolet Telescope (LUT)

Objectives: Making use of the absence of atmosphere and slow rotation of the Moon to observe selected variable celestial objects and sky areas in the near ultraviolet region.

Position: -Y side of the lander

Features:

* First ever astronomical observation made from surface of other planetary objects for prolonged periods
* Highly automated; can aim and point to various targets with the telescope mount automatically
* Light weight achieved via using composite materials and structure optimization
* Highly adaptable to the lunar surface environment; can operate between -20 and 40 degrees Celsius

Major sub-systems: Telescope body and frame (left); reflector lens and telescope mount (right), electric cable mount and control systems

Operator: National Astronomy Observatory of China (NAOC), CAS



Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUV)

Objectives: Imagery of the Earth's ionosphere in the extreme ultraviolet region; investigations into space weather forecasting and ionosphere studies

Position: Top side of the lander

Features:

* Can track Earth automatically; will perform long term imagery monitoring of scattered extreme ultraviolet radiation from the Earth's ionosphere
* Operational wavelength is 30.4 nm (about 1/20 of visible light)
* FOV 15 degrees (region covers about 7.5 Earths)
* Can operate between -25 and 75 degrees Celsius; has ability to survive and operate in the highly variable thermal environment of the lunar surface
* First extreme ultraviolet camera operating from the lunar surface

Major sub-systems: Extreme ultraviolet multi-membrane optical imagery system; Extreme ultraviolet photon counter sensor; Signal processing unit; Pointing control system; Main control unit

Operator: Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics (CIOMP), CAS





Rover instruments

PanCam

Objectives: Acquire 3-D imagery of the lunar surface for surveying the terrain, geological features and structures, and craters inside the target region. Also monitors the operational state of the lander.

Position: Top of the mast of the rover

Features:

* Uses simplified optical system and highly miniaturized design, making the cameras light-weight, small volume, low energy consuming and highly reliable
* Can operate between -25 and 55 degrees Celsius and able to survive between -40 and 75 degrees Celsius
* Focusing operational between 3m and infinity
* Have both automatic and manual focusing; can automatically adjust the field brightness

Major sub-systems: Twin PanCams (A & , each with one optical system, mechanical system, electronics and thermal control parts

Operator: Xian Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics (OPT), CAS



Ground Penetration Radar (GPM)

Objectives: Measure lunar soil depth and structural distribution of soil, magma, lava tubes and sub-surface rock layers

Position: Inside the rover

Features:

* Channel I operates at 60MHz - for probing sub-surface geological features down to meter-level resolution; maximum depth >100 m
* Channel II operates at 500MHz - for probing lunar soil depth with resolution better than 30 cm; maximum depth >30 m
* The antennas can survive temperatures of -200 to 120 degrees Celsius
* Miniaturized design, low energy consumption, high performance (the pictures on the left side are the results of testing the two radar channels at the Laohugou #12 glacier in Gansu province)

Major sub-systems: Radar controller, channel I/II antennas and transmitter, electric cables etc. (right side from top to bottom: channel I transmitter, channel II transmitter, channel II antenna, channel I antenna)

Operator: Institute of Electronics, CAS



VIS/NIR Imaging Spectrometer (VNIS)

Objectives: Measure the composition and resources of the lunar surface via imaging and spectrometry in the visible and near-infrared wavelengths

Position: Beneath the rover's top deck

Features:

* Utilizes RF-driven tunable light & ultrasound spectrometry
* Utilizes new design ultrasound generators
* Have anti-dust accumulation and in-orbit calibration functions
* Miniaturized design, light weight, high performance (photos on the right are the sample spectra and photos of Labradorite simulated moon soil, quartz crystals and LLB simulated moon soil)

Major sub-systems: Tunable light & ultrasound spectrometer optical system, ultrasound-driven target guiding, dust repelling and thermal control components, composite outer case, main control system and data processing module

Operator: Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics (SITP), CAS



Alpha Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS)

Objectives: Measure the composition and distribution of various elements on the lunar surface via observing the scattered X-rays from the bombardment of alpha particles of rocks

Position: On the rover's robotic arm

Features:

* Includes active particle scattering, in-situ determination of lunar surface element, in-orbit calibration and distance measurement functions
* The sensor can re-calibrate itself through the use of standard calibration targets
* Rover's lunar night survival contains a radioisotope heater unit (RHU) for keeping the sensor warm
* Low energy consumption, light weight, high resolution and high sensitivity semi-conductor sensor used

Major sub-systems: (from left to right) sensor, RHU, calibration target

Operator: Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP), CAS

Posted by: kenny Dec 7 2013, 08:48 AM

Thanks a lot, Cosmic Penguin. It's great to have your linguistic ability at our service.

The Rover Pancam temperature ranges are not encouraging, unless the camera is augmented by heaters, because the normal
lunar temperature range is much wider than this.

"...Can operate between -25 and 55 degrees Celsius and able to survive between -40 and 75 degrees Celsius."

Posted by: Seryddwr Dec 7 2013, 11:49 AM

I see it in the original, too. That can't be right. Surely such an elementary error would be noticed. Perhaps, as you say, heaters will be used to protect the instruments.

Posted by: bobik Dec 7 2013, 04:23 PM

What about the very low frequency radio astronomy experiment? It is still mentioned in the http://ms2013.cosmos.ru/4m-s3_abstract_book.pdf.

Posted by: nprev Dec 7 2013, 04:30 PM

Thanks for all this terrific information, Cosmic Penguin. This will be VERY helpful!

Posted by: Phil Stooke Dec 8 2013, 01:40 AM

Not certain about this yet, but I have formed the impression that the rover camera mast folds down into the body at night and is covered by the solar panels, so it is protected in the warmer box.

Phil

Posted by: dilo Dec 8 2013, 07:03 AM

A question arise, will the rover survive to the night temperature after first 14 days mission?

Added: I found this answer in http://www.spaceflight101.com/change-3.html article

This is accomplished through several small radioisotope thermal units on board; however, they probably meant that the rover will survive 3 lunar days and only two lunar nights...

Posted by: Phil Stooke Dec 13 2013, 06:19 PM

The two hour time difference is one orbit - they are landing one orbit earlier. That might reflect actual vs predicted orbit plane orientation, or the selection of a different landing ellipse. We still don't know much about specific landing sites and there could have been several candidates in the whole landing region. One would be chosen as the nominal target with a final decision pending arrival in lunar orbit.

Phil

Posted by: Cosmic Penguin Dec 13 2013, 07:54 PM

The best annotated diagram of the lander and rover I have seen so far...

(http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=11199&pid=278419)

ADMIN EDIT: Please do not post links to large in-line images. Save to your computer and upload as attachments (below).

Posted by: SpaceListener Dec 13 2013, 08:30 PM

Thanks Cosmic Penguin for posting a blog's link which has good discussions and details about Change-e'3. It is written in Chinese and I advise you use last version of Google Web Chrome which allows you to translate whole page from Chinese to English automatically.

Posted by: dilo Dec 13 2013, 10:38 PM

Thanks! I made these improved versions:

Posted by: Explorer1 Dec 14 2013, 12:14 AM

Those look great dilo!

t-12 hours until the Moon gets a new visitor, after such a long time...