Chang’e-5 Moon Lander / Rover Will Mark Beginning Of 3rd Phase Of China Lunar Exploration Program; On Schedule For 2017, Uncrewed Vehicle Will Attempt To Collect & Return Moon Rocks To Earth, Requiring Several Breakthrough Technologies For China; Chang’e-4 Lander / Rover Mission, Possibly Destined For South Pole Moon, Will Checkout Technologies Needed For Sample Return Mission
Image Credit: CLEP, CNSA
Chang’e-3 Successful Landing At Sinus Iridum “Bay Of Rainbows” 44°N 31°W On 14 December 2013 Points To New Epoch For Humanity As Permanent Operations On Moon Are Precursor To Multi World Species Reality; ILOA Milky Way Galaxy Image By Chang’e-3 UV Telescope May Impact 21st Century As EarthRise Photo By Apollo Shaped 20th
Image Credit: chinanews.com
LADEE In Science Operations Orbit Skimming Moon Surface Between 20-50km & 75-150km; NMS Instrument Detecting Argon-40, Helium & Neon, LDEX Observing Occasional Bursts Of Dust Particles (Ranging From Few Per Minute To Several Hundred In Under 30 Seconds) Suspected Cause Is Meteoroids Impacting Surface, UVS Measuring Potassium & Sodium Levels; Chang’e-3 Landing Expected 14 Dec Will Add Dust, Gases To Atmosphere – LADEE May Be Able To Measure Distribution / Evolution
Image Credit: NASA, CNSA
Pakistan Prime Minister Congratulates China On Moon Program Success; Turkey Expresses Desire To Work With China On Astronaut Program & Lunar Exploration; ESA Assisting With Chang’e-3 Communications, Additional Collaboration In Future Missions Likely; Deputy Commander-In-Chief Of China Lunar Program Li Benzheng Says China Interested In Space Cooperation With India, Open To Working With Other Countries
Image Credit: CNSA
China Spacecraft To Enter 100Km Circumlunar Orbit 09:30 UT After 112-Hour Cruise & Prepare For 14 Dec Landing At Sinus Iridum 44°N, 31°W Between 08:00-12:00; Chief Designer Sun Zezhou (L) States Mission Success Based On Safe Landing, Rover Functionality, Imaging Of Rover & Lander, Reception Of Data By Ground Control; Greg Kulacki (R) UCS China Project Manager Says China May Prefer International Collaboration On Human Moon Missions
Image Credit: CCTV, NASA GSFC, Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering, CNS
With China Moon Landing Fast Approaching & Commercial Missions Soon To Follow, US Legislators Propose Bill To Qualify Apollo Sites As National Park; Space Law Experts Henry Hertzfeld (R) & Scott Pace Say This Action May Violate UN Outer Space Treaty, Suggest Government Officials Open Dialogue To Establish Ground Rules For Respecting Mission Sites / Equipment / Artifacts; May Also Help Ease Strained International Relations
Image Credit: NASA, CNSA
‘Middle Country’ First Attempt To Land On Another World And First Attempted Moon Landing By Anyone In 37+ Years May Mark Start Of Permanent Lunar Operations, For Good; Weather Permitting Chang’e-3 / Yutu Will Launch On Long March 3B From Xichang Launch Site Into Direct Lunar Transfer Orbit, Moon Orbit Insertion After 5-Day Cruise, Entry Descent Landing EDL Phase To Commence After 10 Days In Lunar Orbit
Image Credit: CNSA, CLEP
LUT – Lunar Ultraviolet Telescope To Land On Moon Mid Dec Aboard Chang’e-3; Scientific Goals Include Continuous Monitoring Of Variable Stars & Galaxies, Low Galactic Latitude Sky Survey; Instrument Will Observe During Lunar Daytime; Flat Mirror With Gimbal Mount Provides Over 1200 Square Degrees Of Visible Sky For 150mm-Diameter Aperture Telescope; Stable Platform, Tenuous Atmosphere Of Moon Ideal For Long-Duration Low-Frequency Observations; Pictured: LUT Lead Scientist Jianyan Wei
Image Credit: phys.scichina.com, ILOA, CNSA
Image Credit: NASA, CNSA
Dec Moon Landing Of China Chang’e-3 Could Provide NASA LADEE Orbital Mission Unique Opportunity To Collect Data On Ejected Dust From Descent Engines; Valuable For Planning Future Missions, Heritage Site Preservation, Lunar Base Development; Current USA Policy Impeding NASA From Arranging Such Collaboration With China; Apollo Moonwalkers Advocate For NASA To Begin Cooperation With China On Human Moon Return
Image Credit: NASA, CLEP, CNSA