To the moon, and faster
Source: Xinhua |
September 5, 2010, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA'S second lunar probe, the Chang'e-2, will fly much faster than its predecessor and reach lunar orbit within a shorter period of time.
The probe is due to launch at the end of the year.
China launched its first lunar probe, Chang'e-1, on October 24, 2007, from southwest China's Sichuan Province.
It ended its 16-month mission on March 1, 2009, when it crashed into the moon's surface.
"It is estimated Chang'e-2 can reach lunar orbit within five days, compared to 13 days, 14 hours and 19 minutes for Chang'e-1," Ouyang Ziyuan, chief scientist at the China Lunar Exploration Project, said.
"China had not been to the moon before the country launched Chang'e-1, so we were very prudent at that time and adjusted its orbit in a very slow manner. It flew a journey of 2.06 million kilometers before reaching lunar orbit," he said.
"But it's different now. We are more sure about the launch," he added.
"We can send Chang'e-2 directly to the moon and we have also changed the orbit for it, so it can reach lunar orbit within five days."
In addition, Chang'e-2 will orbit closer to the moon and carry a higher resolution camera, he said.
China plans to land Chang'e-3 on the moon in 2013. Then, in 2017, a moon rock sample will be returned to earth.
Chang'e-2 will test key soft-landing technologies for the Chang'e-3 and provide high-resolution photographs of the landing area, the space authorities said.
The probe is due to launch at the end of the year.
China launched its first lunar probe, Chang'e-1, on October 24, 2007, from southwest China's Sichuan Province.
It ended its 16-month mission on March 1, 2009, when it crashed into the moon's surface.
"It is estimated Chang'e-2 can reach lunar orbit within five days, compared to 13 days, 14 hours and 19 minutes for Chang'e-1," Ouyang Ziyuan, chief scientist at the China Lunar Exploration Project, said.
"China had not been to the moon before the country launched Chang'e-1, so we were very prudent at that time and adjusted its orbit in a very slow manner. It flew a journey of 2.06 million kilometers before reaching lunar orbit," he said.
"But it's different now. We are more sure about the launch," he added.
"We can send Chang'e-2 directly to the moon and we have also changed the orbit for it, so it can reach lunar orbit within five days."
In addition, Chang'e-2 will orbit closer to the moon and carry a higher resolution camera, he said.
China plans to land Chang'e-3 on the moon in 2013. Then, in 2017, a moon rock sample will be returned to earth.
Chang'e-2 will test key soft-landing technologies for the Chang'e-3 and provide high-resolution photographs of the landing area, the space authorities said.
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