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  [Discuss] China's Chang'e 5 moon mission

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Author Topic:   [Discuss] China's Chang'e 5 moon mission
Robert Pearlman
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posted 11-22-2020 09:39 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Please use this topic to discuss China's Chang'e 5 mission to collect and return samples from the moon.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 11-22-2020 09:43 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The Planetary Society has published a guide to Chang'e 5, gathering together the available information about the mission.
China's Chang'e-5 mission will return what should be the youngest-ever Moon samples to Earth. The spacecraft will land in Oceanus Procellarum — the Ocean of Storms — a dark-grey region in the Moon's northwest corner visible with the unaided eye from Earth. The specific landing site, near a 70-kilometer-wide mound named Mons Rümker, may have rocks and soil that are just 1.2 billion years old, formed by a large volcanic event that covered up the underlying surface.
China has only said thus far that the mission will launch in late November, though it is expected to lift off on a Long March 5 rocket at about 4 p.m. EST (2100 GMT) on Monday (Nov. 23). Chang'e 5 is expected to collect about 4.4 pounds (2 kilograms) of lunar material and return to Earth within 22 to 23 (Earth) days.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 11-23-2020 03:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
China's Chang'e 5 mission lifted off on Monday (Nov. 23) at 3:30 p.m. EST (2030 GMT or 4:30 a.m. local Nov. 24) from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 11-23-2020 05:59 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A comparison, via a Chinese document, between the Chang'e 5 spacecraft and the Apollo spacecraft. The labels point to corresponding components:
  • orbiter vs. service module
  • return capsule (and fairing) vs. command module
  • descent stage vs. lunar module descent stage
  • ascent stage vs. lunar module ascent stage

Headshot
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posted 11-23-2020 07:19 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Headshot   Click Here to Email Headshot     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
If Chang'e 5 successfully lands at Mons Rumker it will rest about 41 degrees north of the lunar equator. This will easily be the farthest north landing site for any robotic or manned lunar mission.

Chang'e 4 holds the record for the furthest successful landing site south of the lunar equator at about 45 degrees. Chang'e 4 landed in the Von Karman crater on the lunar far side.

Blackarrow
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posted 11-25-2020 11:38 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Blackarrow     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
A comparison, via a Chinese document, between the Chang'e 5 spacecraft and the Apollo spacecraft...
Imitation is the best form of flattery!

Robert Pearlman
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posted 11-25-2020 12:48 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
To be fair, the imitation is superficial, at best. There are only so many ways you can design a sample return mission and China went with lunar orbit rendezvous rather than direct return.

Beyond the basic division of the spacecraft into four parts, the details diverge greatly. The reentry capsule, for example, is a miniature Shenzhou (the appearance that it resembles the Apollo command module is only the outer conical fairing that will be jettisoned).

perineau
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posted 11-25-2020 12:51 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for perineau   Click Here to Email perineau     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I think that if China succeeds, it won't be long before they start sending people and perhaps the first woman to walk on the moon will be Chinese.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 11-25-2020 12:56 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
China's plan is to start sending humans to the moon after it completes its space station program, which is targeted for 2030.

Whether this mission succeeds or fails, it will be followed up by its backup vehicle, Chang'e 6. If Chang'e 5 succeeds, the plan is for a more ambitious sample return mission from the lunar south pole.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 11-29-2020 04:56 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A mission update from CGTN:
China's Chang'e-5 lunar probe successfully completed its second braking at 8:23 p.m. Sunday (BJT), entering a circular lunar orbit 200 kilometers above the moon and getting ready for the landing operation, according to the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of China National Space Administration (CNSA).

This follows its first braking one day earlier, which took place at a position about 400 kilometers above the moon and enabled it to be captured by the moon's gravitational field and fly in an elliptical lunar orbit.

The second braking brings it closer to the moon. Over the next week, the probe, composed of four parts – the orbiter, lander, ascender and Earth re-entry module – will perform multiple complicated tasks on a tight schedule.

The four parts will separate into two pairs. The lander and ascender will head to the moon and collect samples, while the orbiter and Earth re-entry module will continue to fly around the moon and adjust to a designated orbit, getting ready for the docking with the ascender.

The landing operation is expected in three days.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 12-01-2020 09:19 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Update from CGTN:
The Chang'e-5 successfully landed on the near side of moon, China's National Space Administration (CNSA) announced on Tuesday.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 12-01-2020 11:16 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Xinhua state news agency video

Jurg Bolli
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posted 12-01-2020 02:24 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jurg Bolli   Click Here to Email Jurg Bolli     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
This is a great achievement, I hope the return of material goes well.

perineau
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posted 12-02-2020 01:23 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for perineau   Click Here to Email perineau     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Is it just me or does the Chang'e 5 lunar landing vehicle look a lot like the Apollo lunar module?

Robert Pearlman
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posted 12-02-2020 09:12 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Beyond it having descent and ascent stages, the Chang'e 5 differs in a number of ways from the Apollo lunar module. It has solar panels, its legs do not collapse, it is equipped with a robotic arm and the communications antennas are on the deck of the descent stage.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 12-02-2020 09:13 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) has released a high resolution panorama taken by the Chang'e 5 lander:

davidcwagner
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posted 12-02-2020 05:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for davidcwagner   Click Here to Email davidcwagner     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Is that Mons Rümker in the upper 1 o'clock position?

Robert Pearlman
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posted 12-02-2020 07:09 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
According to planetary cartographer Phil Stooke on the Unmanned Spaceflight forums), the feature on the horizon is an unnamed hill.

Mons Rümker is (relatively) nearby but is out of view, even during descent. Here is Phil's quick map of the landing site:

Robert Pearlman
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posted 12-03-2020 08:58 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Photo provided by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) showing Chang'e-5 gathering samples on the moon on Dec. 2, 2020. The probe has now completed collecting lunar material and the samples have been sealed within the spacecraft, CNSA announced Thursday morning (Dec. 3).

Preparations for the ascent vehicle to depart the moon are underway, with a liftoff expected at about 10:10 a.m. EST (1510 GMT).

Robert Pearlman
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posted 12-03-2020 09:50 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Liftoff of the Chang'e 5 ascent vehicle at 10:10 a.m. EST (1510 GMT):

Robert Pearlman
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posted 12-04-2020 02:48 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
China deployed its flag on the moon (attached to the Chang'e 5 lander). Previous landers displayed the flag as a decal (via Twitter).

Robert Pearlman
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posted 12-04-2020 05:53 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter photographed Chang'e 5 on the moon.
China's Chang'e 5 sample return spacecraft made a safe touchdown on the lunar surface at 10:11 EST (15:11 UTC) 01 December 2020. LRO passed over the site the following day and acquired an off-nadir (13° slew) image showing the lander centered within a triangle of craters.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 12-16-2020 12:26 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Chinese state television is reporting that the Chang'e 5 reentry capsule has landed in Inner Mongolia.

The capsule has been located and recovery teams are approaching.

David C
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posted 12-16-2020 02:59 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for David C     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I think congratulations are in order.

SkyMan1958
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posted 12-16-2020 09:16 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SkyMan1958   Click Here to Email SkyMan1958     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Congratulations to China! It's a tough act to pull off.

perineau
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posted 12-17-2020 12:42 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for perineau   Click Here to Email perineau     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Yes, congrats are in order.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 12-19-2020 02:26 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
CGTN video
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation unveiled the Chang'e-5 return capsule, which was carrying lunar samples. Scientists are eagerly waiting to start studying the moon specimens.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 01-18-2021 01:11 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
China on Monday (Jan. 18) unveiled regulations on lunar sample management, encouraging international cooperation on studying the samples brought back by the Chang'e-5 probe.
Released by the China National Space Administration (CNSA), the regulations cover general principles for preserving, managing, using, borrowing and returning the lunar samples, as well as information release and research results management of the samples.

According to the regulations, the lunar samples will be generally used for four purposes, namely permanent storage, backup permanent storage, research and public welfare.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 02-22-2021 11:43 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
First look at some of the 1,731 grams of lunar samples collected by Chang'e-5 (via Andrew Jones on Twitter):

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