Image Credit: NASA, Russianspaceweb.com, CLEP
Highest Resolution Image (R) Of Russia Luna 24 Lander Descent Stage Acquired By LROC From Altitude Of 29km Above Surface On Orbit #10904; Spacecraft (L) Landed On Mare Crisium On 18 August 1976, Returned 170g Of Regolith To Earth After Less Than 24 Hours On Moon; Long Hiatus From Moon Surface Will End In 2013 If China Successful With Chang’e-3 Landing
Image Credit: GLXP
Barcelona Moon Team Signs Agreement With China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) For NET 2014 Launch; Agreement Allows Spanish Team Led By Galactic Suite Moonrace, ALTRAN, Consortium Of Spain’s Leading Space Companies To Focus On Lunar Landings, GLXP Objectives, Securing Sponsorships; CGWIC Is Sole Commercial Organization Authorized By China Government To Provide Commercial Launch Services
Image Credit: CLEP, china.org.cn
China Chang’e-3 Lunar Lander Enters Flight Model Phase From Prototype Phase, Manufacturing Of Flight Model Entity Has Begun; 2013 Probe Will Carry Lunar Rover & Instruments To Conduct Land Surveys, Living Conditions Assessment, Astrophysical Observations; China Congressional Deputy Hu Hao Says Chang’e-2 Exceeded Mission Goals Laying Solid Foundation For Landing Of Its Successor
Image Credit: CCTV, CNSA
Chang’e-3 Moon Lander / Rover On Schedule For 2013 Confirms Mission Chief Commander Ye Peijian; 100-Kg Rover Designed To Operate 3 Months On Lunar Surface; Will Include Navigation / Telecommunication Systems For Hazard Avoidance / Remote Control, Scientific Equipment To Collect & Analyze Moon Samples; China Also Developing Heavy-Thrust Carrier Rocket That Could Propel Human Moon Mission
Image Credit: CLEP, NASA
China Lunar Exploration Program Engineers Using Chang’e-2 Lunar Orbiter Images To Select Landing Sites For Chang’e-3; Special Pictures Of Sinus Iridum 41°N With Resolutions Of 1-1.5m To Aid In Selection Of Several Potential Sites; Final Selection Will Depend On Launch Time; Chang’e-2 Images Also Provided Foundation For Recently-Released 7-m Resolution Whole-Moon Map