Category Archives: China

Thursday / 23 October 2014

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China Preparing To Launch Chang’e-5 Test Mission

Chang'e5TestP

1st Launch Of A Long March-3C/E Rocket Is Set To Boost The Next China Mission From Xichang Satellite Launch Center Sometime Between 24-26 Oct; Probe Will Test Earth Reentry Technologies / Capabilities Needed To Complete 2017 Chang’e-5 Sample Return Mission (L); Based On Modified Chang’e-2 Probe Design, Carrying A Re-entry Capsule, The Probe Will Travel Around The Moon And Return To Earth At >40,230 km/hr Before Parachuting For Earth Landing; 8-Day Mission Will Also Carry Payload Developed By LuxSpace Of Luxembourg

Image Credit: CNSA, CLEP

Thursday / 16 October 2014

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China To Launch Reentry Test Orbiter
To Moon 23 October

Chang'e Test Orbiter, 4M OHB

Moon Orbiter To Test Reentry Technologies For 2017 Chang’e-5 Sample Return Mission Set To Launch 23 Oct On Long March 3C/E From Xichang Satellite Launch Center; 14-Kg Manfred Memorial Moon Mission Designed By OHB To Measure Radiation & Transmit Radio Signals Is Attached To 3rd Stage Booster; Chang’e Capsule Carrying Cameras (Perhaps Other Science Instruments) Filled With Samples, To Separate From 3rd Stage 20 Mins After Launch, Closest Approach 28 Oct At 00:33 UT ~13,000 Km Altitude, Return To Earth Oct 31/Nov 1 At 11 Km/s, Parachute-Assist Landing

Image Credit: CASC, CNSA, CCTV, OHB, LuxSpace

Friday / 10 October 2014

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Moon Spacecraft Lunar Eclipse Observations

Spacecraft Lunar Eclipse

China Chang’e-3 Moon Lander At Sinus Iridum / Mare Imbrium, 44.12°N 19.51°W Operating In Lunar Day 11, Observations / Images Expected From 8 Oct Total Eclipse Of Sun By Earth As Seen From Moon; Through MoU With NAOC, ILOA Encouraging These & Other Types Of Innovative Lunar Astronomy Observations; NASA LRO In Moon Orbit Will Transmit Data Collected On Effects Of Lunar Eclipse On Moon Surface Temperatures; Next Eclipse 4 Apr 2015

Image Credit: CCTV, CNSA, Stellarium, K. Kremer, M. Lorenzo, B. King, NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 19-22 September 2014

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India & China Initiate Space Cooperation,
Joint Moon Mission Next?

IndiaChinaMoon0914

Top CNSA Representatives Accompany China President Xi Jinping On First Official Visit To India; ISRO Chair K Radhakrishnan (RF) CNSA Deputy Director Zhang Jianhua (LF) Sign MoU For Cooperation In Peaceful Uses Of Outer Space; Initial Focus Expected To Be On Space Science / Exploration, Remote Sensing & Disaster Management; China Has Asserted That It Is Open In Its Lunar Program For Cooperation With Other Nations; An India / China Partnership Could Facilitate Rapid Advancement Of Robotic & Human Moon Exploration

Image Credit: CNSA, sarkaritel.com

Friday / 19 September 2014

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OHB Spacecraft 4M To Launch On China Rocket, Fly By Moon 28 October

OHB 4M

Manfred Memorial Moon Mission (4M), Dedicated To OHB Founder Manfred Fuchs, Developed By LuxSpace Of Luxembourg, To Travel 196 Hours To Moon, Fly By Surface 28 Oct 00:28:00 UT At 13,000 Km, Return To Earth; Will Measure Radiation During Flight & Around Moon, Transmit Radio Signals On Amateur Beacon; OHB Planning Moon Missions Including Landing Within Next Few Years; Likely Part Of China Technology Test Orbiter Moon Mission

Image Credit: OHB, LuxSpace

Thursday / 18 September 2014

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Commercial Crew Enterprises Advancing
Lunar Aspirations

SpacePeople Commercial Crew Selection Allows NASA To Focus On Deep Space Exploration; Commercial Space Enterprises Not Content With Taxi Service To LEO: Space Adventures (2017) & Excalibur Almaz (by 2025) Planning Circumlunar Tourism Missions, Golden Spike Company Advancing Human Surface Mission Architecture; While At ASE In Beijing Buzz Aldrin Says He Is Supportive Of China & International Human Moon Exploration, Thinks USA Should Advance Robotic Lunar Exploration, Build Permanent Station On Moon As Staging Post To Mars / Beyond

Image Credit: NASA, Golden Spike Company, Space Adventures

Tuesday / 16 September 2014

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Thorium Distribution Reveals Clues To Lunar History & Future

ThoriumMoon

Analysis Of Compton-Belkovich Region On Moon Farside Shows Thorium Concentration Of 15 – 33ppm, Additional Thorium Unexpectedly Found Spread Up To 300km Eastward Of Region At ~2ppm; Distribution Of Thorium Likely Created By Explosive Eruption Of Silica Magma; Thorium Has Long Been Identified As A Potential Safe, Valuable Alternative For Nuclear Power & Option To Power Lunar Settlements; Spacepowers India & China Are Developing Plans To Advance Terrestrial Thorium Reactor Development

Image Credit: NASA, US Geological Society

Friday / 12 September 2014

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Chang’e-5 Hainan Launch Site To Be Operational Soon

Chang'e-5 Wenchange Satellite Launch Center

Deputy Director Of China Manned Space Agency, Yang Liwei Announces Wenchang Satellite Launch Center In Hainan – China Lowest Latitude Launch Site At 19°N – Is Complete & Will Soon Be Ready For Launches; Chang’e-5 Moon Sample Return Mission On Track For 2017 Launch On Developing Long March-5 Rocket, China’s Most Powerful Rocket Capable Of  Lifting 14,000Kg To GTO; Trans-Lunar Test Orbiter To Launch NET Oct From Xichang Satellite Launch Center

Image Credit: Xinhua, CNSA, Agencies

Wednesday / 10 September 2014

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Lunar Day 10: Chang’e-3 Lander Operating Nominally, Immobile Rover Still Interactive

Yutu0914

140-kg Yutu Rover Starting 10th Lunar Day With All 4 Payloads – Panoramic Camera, Lunar Radar, Infrared Imaging Spectrometer, Particle Excitation X-Ray Spectrometer – Operating Nominally According To Chief Designer Of China Lunar Exploration Program Wu Weiren; Rover Has Outlasted Designed Service Life By 7 Months; New Lunar Panorama Taken By Yutu Rover Released To Public; Chang’e-3 Lander With Lunar Ultraviolet Telescope Also Operating Normally

Image Credit: CCTV, Xinhua

Tuesday / 9 September 2014

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Association Of Space Explorers Talk Cooperation In / With China

YangBuzz0914

International Organization Of 395+ Astronauts & Cosmonauts From 35 Nations Will Meet In Beijing, China On 10-15 September To Discuss ‘Cooperation: To Realize Humanity’s Space Dream Together’; China Officials – Including 1st China Astronaut Yang Liwei – Expected To Share Information On Current Human Space Mission Capacity / Future Plans, Opportunities For International Cooperation; Veteran Moonworker Buzz Aldrin Among The 30+ US Astronauts Participating In The Event; Aldrin Is Active Advocate For USA / International Cooperation With China On Moon / Mars Mission Development & Exploration

Image Credit: ASE, CNSA, MIT