Category Archives: Lunar Sample Return

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 9-12 January 2015

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China Advancing Space Program With New Launch Center / ‘Moonport’

WenchangSLC0115

Launching Of Space Station Capsules & Crewed Moon Missions From New Wenchang Satellite Launch Center “Just A Matter Of Time” According To China Officials; 19-Degree Latitude Will Increase Carrying Capacity Of Rockets By 10% & Island Location Will Allow For Easier Transport / Delivery Of The Larger Rockets / Payloads Needed For Country To Achieve Next Phase Of Ambitious Lunar Exploration Program; Site Will Host Huge Long March 9 Rocket, Expected To Be Ready By 2030; Chang’e-5 T1 Service Module Currently Returning To Lunar Orbit To Collect Data In Preparation For 2017 Chang’e-5 Sample Return 

Image Credit: Digital Globe, astronomy.wiki.com

Thursday / 8 January 2015

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Is Helium-3 Most Valuable Resource On Moon?

He3Change5

Projections Indicate Clean Fusion Technology Powered By Helium-3 Can Produce 18.4 MeV Of Energy, 1 Metric Ton Of The Rare Element Could Power Tokyo For 1 Year; Could Be Used To Propel Spaceships Facilitating Trips To Mars In <100 Days, Jupiter In <200 Days; Potential Fuel For Thermonuclear Weaponry Which Could Be Used To Protect Earth From Dangerous Asteroids; Speculation Abounds That Interest In He-3 Is Primary Driver Of China & Perhaps India Lunar Program, Next Step For China Is 2017 Chang’e-5 Sample Return Mission

Pictured (TR): Chang’e-1-Produced Map Of He-3 Distribution On Nearside Moon

Image Credit: NAOC, ocw.mit.edu

 

Wednesday / 12 November 2014

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China: Space Dominance Or Key International Partner?

ChinaDominantCooperate

Noting Ambitious Series Of Lunar Missions – Chang’e-2 Elaborate Post-Moon Trajectory, Chang’e-3 Expansive Payload Capacity, Chang’e-5 Plans For Lunar Orbit Rendezvous – Paul Spudis Speculates That China Is Moving Ahead With Cislunar Space Dominance / Permanence / Control; Xu Dazhe, Head Of CNSA & China State Administration Of Science Technology & Industry For National Defense Says Country Welcomes International Colleagues To Join China Lunar Exploration Program; Buzz Aldrin Declares Cooperation With China Is Most Important Priority To Ensure USA Success In Space

Image Credit: Xinhua / Gin Ying, spudislunarresources.com, ama2007.com

Friday / 7 November 2014

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Moon Educator & Cislunar Space Workshops Promoting Lunar Science

Lunar Workshops

Lunar Educator Workshop For 45 Teachers Will Feature Apollo Missions Moon Rocks & Regolith At JPL In Pasadena CA 8 Nov; International Workshop On Scientific Opportunities In Cislunar Space: Lunar Science Illuminating The Universe On 9 Nov In Tucson AZ To Focus On Testing Deep Space Instruments In Cislunar Space (LEO To Moon Far Side Halo Orbit LL2) & Cislunar Scientific Analogs Which Can Imitate Many Extreme Conditions From Mercury To Pluto

Image Credit: NASA, Select Investor

Tuesday / 4 November 2014

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China Becomes 3rd Nation To Conduct
Round Trip Moon Mission

Xiaofei

Continuing Its Methodical Approach To Lunar Development, China Successfully Recovers Chang’e-5 Test Probe ‘Xiaofei’ After Its 840,000-km Journey & Landing In Inner Mongolia; Probe Was Intact, Though Charred From Reentry Heat; Host Platform Dodged Earth And Headed Back Out Into Space To Continue Operations After Releasing Reentry Test Probe; Next Mission, Chang’e-4 Lander May Become First Craft To Soft Land On Lunar South Pole, Will Help Prove Systems Required For More Ambitious Chang’e-5 Sample Return Mission, NET 2017

Image Credit: Xinhua

Wednesday / 29 October 2014

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China Test Moon Mission Returning To Earth

Chang'e5T1cominghome

Chang’e-5 T1 Probe Departing Gravitational Sphere Of Moon, After Briefly Orbitting Moon At ~60,000 Km Altitude, Craft Makes Adjustments For Transfer Back To Terrestrial Orbit; Four-Day Trip Back To Earth Will Set Up Earth Reentry Demonstration On 31 October, Will Then Maneuver To Skip Off Edge Of Earth Atmosphere To Slow From 11.2 Km/sec Before Landing In Inner Mongolia With Parachute Assist; Lunar Rendezvous Allowed For Stunning Photo Of Moon And Earth

Image Credit: CNSA

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

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 / 30 July 2014

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China Chang’e-5 On Schedule For 2017

Chang'e-5Wu0714

Development Of Chang’e-5 Lunar Sample Return Mission “Progressing Smoothly” Says China State Administration Of Science & Technology Industry Spokesperson Zhijian Wu (L); Mission Will Be 1st Of China Lunar Exploration Program (CLEP) Phase 3 (Return) Missions; Probe Will Collect Regolith From Lunar Surface & Scoop Samples From Depth Of 2m, Launch And Rendezvous With Orbiter For Earth Return; Plans For Chang’e-4 Still To Be Confirmed, South Pole Landing Possible Says Ziyuan Ouyang; CLEP Educational Exhibit Opens National Tour At Hong Kong Science Museum, Features ~20 Replicas, Models & Interactive Exhibits

Image Credit: CLEP, Hong Kong Science Museum

Thursday / 17 July 2014

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Japan Advancing Plans For Moon Missions

JapanRobotMoon0714

JAXA Unveils Plans For Robotic Missions To Lunar Surface Commencing In 2019; Missions Will Conduct Research On Inner Structure Of Moon, Recover / Analyze Samples & Exploit Resources, While Establishing Technical Platform Capable Of Landing On Moon & Returning To Earth With Potential Applications For Other Celestial Bodies; Prominent Hi-Tech Industry & Impressive Space Exploration Resumé Could Position Japan As A Valuable Contributor In Collaborative International Strategy To Expand Human Presence Throughout Solar System

Image Credit: JAXA