China another step closer to moon mission success
Print Edition
CHINA has run tests close to the moon simulating an unmanned docking procedure needed in the country’s next lunar mission.
The service module of the unmanned lunar orbiter currently in space to trial such techniques flew to a suitable position for orbital docking last week, the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense said yesterday.
Liu Jizhong, deputy chief commander of the lunar probe project, said the service module had proved the reliability of key technology needed for the docking of two spacecraft in the Chang’e-5 mission.
The Chang’e-5 probe, expected to launch in 2017, will be tasked with landing on the moon, collecting samples and returning to Earth.
The current lunar orbiter was launched on October 24, last year.
A capsule that was designed to separate and return to Earth did so as planned in November, while the service module continues its lunar flight to carry out preset scientific tasks.
The service module is operating smoothly and will carry out further tests on capturing lunar images, and may conduct tests assessing lunar gravity.
Liu said a test launching of Chang’e-5 with a Long March-5 carrier rocket from south China’s Hainan Province is expected to be carried out this year.
“In tests of the service module, we simulated three key procedures needed for Chang’e-5 — re-entry (to the moon’s orbit) at high speed, adjustment of lunar orbit and docking in lunar orbit, laying a solid foundation for China’s three-step lunar program — orbiting, landing and returning,” said Liu.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
