LUT Payload On China Chang’e-3 Moon Lander Sending Back Unique Stellar Images, Fully Funded For Rest Of 2015, Likely More Years Of Operation To Come; CNSA / NAOC Officials Considering Observations During Upcoming Lunar Eclipses On 4 Apr, 28 Sep, May Be Opportune Time To Acquire Milky Way Galaxy Imagery Sought By ILOA; Chang’e-3 Now In Lunar Day 16
Image Credit: CNSA, NASA
Wenchang Launch Center In Hainan China Will Be Used For Robotic & Human Missions To Moon; China Officials Expect Human Moon Mission Around 2025; Country Leaders See The Launch Center & Moon Program As Critical For “Safeguarding China’s Lunar Rights” According To Plaque In Hainan; Center Is Designed To Handle 10-12 Rocket Launches Per Year, 19-Degree Latitude Allows For Heavier Launches Such As Heavy-Lift Booster Long March-5 Later This Year
Image Credit: CNSA, ILOA
Next Generation Heavy-Lift Rocket, Long March-5, Engines Pass Successful Ground Test According To SASTIND; First Test Flight Planned For 2016; Booster Able To Lift 25 Metric Tons To LEO, 14 To GTO, Key Element For Lunar Sample Return Mission Chang’e-5; Service Module Of Chang’e-5 T1 Mission Currently In Orbit Around Moon, Still Providing China Lunar Exploration Program With Opportunities To Prepare For Sample Return Including Recent Experiment To Test Orbital Operational Capabilities
Image Credit: CNSA, CCTV
Argentina President Cristina Kirchner & China President Xi Jinping Sign Agreement Handing Control Of Tracking Station To China Authorities; Station Is Located In Neuquen, Argentina On 200 Hectare Parcel; China Leasing The Station For 50 Years, Station & Staff Ruled By Chinese Law; Space Antenna Expected To Begin Operations This Month, Will Be Used To Monitor & Receive Data For China Lunar Exploration Missions
Image Credit: CNSA, ferfal.blogspot.com
Chang’e-5 T1 Service Module Enters 127-Minute, 200-Km Lunar Orbit After 2-Month Stay At L2 Lagrange Point; China Officials Will Utilize The Probe To Conduct Long-Range Guidance Tests For Lunar Orbit Rendezvous & Docking In Feb & Mar; Orbiter Will Image Projected 2017 Chang’e-5 Landing Site With Its Dual-Resolution Camera In Early April
Image Credit: CNSA
Ever-Increasing Activities Towards Moon Exploration Indicate India, China & Other Space Powers Driven By Potential Economic Value Of Lunar Resources Including Helium-3; Former ISRO Chairman Prof UR Rao Says India Interested In Power-Generation Capacity Of Lunar He-3; UK-Based Researcher Ian Crawford Says Lunar Poles May Hold Higher Concentrates Of He-3, Polar Lander Required To Confirm; Orbiters Have Confirmed Presence Of Resources, ISRU Systems Already Tested On Earth, Time Has Come To Demonstrate Systems On Surface Of Moon
Image Credit: NASA, ISRO, Birkbeck College
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
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
Great Astronomy From The Moon Potential Confirmed By China Chang’e-3 Lunar Ultraviolet Telescope LUT Observations On 2 December At Beginning Of Lunar Day 13; Iconic 2014 Photo To Be Refined Further By NAOC Astronomers In Beijing, In Collaboration With ILOA And UHH, CFHT Lunar Astronomy Team On Hawai`i Island USA, Introducing Bright, Robust New Year 2015
Image Credit: National Astronomical Observatories of China & International Lunar Observatory Association; University of Hawaii Hilo, Canada France Hawaii Telescope
Building Upon Success Of Chang’e-3 Mission, Backup Craft Chang’e-4 Could Be Launched 2015-2016 To Potentially Ignite The Race To New Frontier Of Exploration – Moon South Pole; With Other Nations / Private & Public Ventures Considering South Pole For Scientific Research, Resources Mapping & Mining, And Human Base Build Out, Chang’e-4 Could Provide Valuable Data As 1st Mission To Lunar Pole For Landing, Communications & Solar Power Technologies
Image Credit: CNSA, CCTV, NASA