Category Archives: China

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 30 May-2 June 2014

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Chang’e-3 Lander / Yutu Rover Continue To Exceed Expectations

chinaLUTstillHere

China Moon Lander With Lunar Ultraviolet Telescope & Extreme Ultraviolet Camera Continue To Gather Scientific Data / Demonstrate Value Of Astronomy From The Moon, While Yutu Rover & Its Mechanical Problems Dominate International News Coverage Of Mission; Now In Lunar Night 6, Rover Has Exceeded Projected 3-Month Lifespan, Chang’e-3 Lander Also Expected To Exceed 1-Year Projected Lifespan; Chang’e-3 LUT International Partner ILOA (With SPC Affiliate) Has Produced An Estimated Lunar Day-Night Cycle For Chang’e-3 Mission

Image Credit: CNSA, silvercoinstory.com

Wednesday / 30 April 2014

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China Lunar Exploration Program Advancing With Fleet Of Missions

ChinaMoonBase0414

Launch Of Test Probe Later This Year Will Verify High-Speed Reentry Capability Of 2017 Chang’e-5 Sample Return Mission; Chang’e-4 Lander May Not Just Repeat Chang’e-3 Mission But Could Achieve Something More Innovative, South Pole Landing Would Be Just That; China Officials Confirm Goal Of Building 36-Square Meter Lunar Base Known As ‘Lunar Palace 1’, Beijing University Of Aeronautics & Astronautics Reportedly Has Completed Design, Details Of The Moonbase Plan Will Be Released Later In 2014

Image Credit: CNSA, CLEP, Moonbase Alpha

Wednesday / 23 April 2014

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International Space Powers Advance Moon Missions As NASA Looks Elsewhere

BoldenwudntGo0414

China, Russia, India & Others Valuing Moon Exploration Priority With Current And Near-Future Lander Missions; Moon Seen As ‘Training Ground’ Providing Opportunity To Learn To Live & Work On Another Celestial Body, Solve Deep Space Exploration Challenges, Test New Technologies, Facilitate Exploration Of  Mars & Beyond; NASA Administrator Charles Bolden However Asserts That Going Back To Moon Is ‘Antiquated Idea’

Image Credit: Roscosmos, hannity.com

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 11-14 April 2014

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China Unveils Human Lunar Rover

ChinaHumanRover0414

China Human Moon Rover Model Unveiled At Chongqing High Tech Show; Rover Being Developed By Ministry Of Education Joint Research Center For Deep Space Exploration, Comprised Of 27 Chinese Universities; PI Of Project – Zhan Hanqing Of Chongqing University – Says Structural & Mechanical Designs Completed, Zero-G & Thermal Control Experiments To Follow; Preliminary Conceptual Study Of 4-Wheel, Foldable, All-Terrain-Vehicle-Sized Rover Should Be Completed By End 2015

Image Credit: chinanews.com, rccm.tsinghua.edu.cn

Friday / 11 April 2014

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Moon First, Then Mars And Beyond

US Moon First

Scientists, Policy Makers, Astronauts Urge U.S. Gov To Support Return To Moon As Discussions Continue At NASA Global Exploration Roadmap Workshop 10-11 Apr; Don Brunell (TL) Points Out Moon Program Would Solidify USA Space Leadership, Facilitate Testing / Development Of Technologies For Living / Working / Transporting In Deep Space, Help Keep Pace With China; David Criswell (TC) Believes Moon Could Supply Clean Renewable Energy For Entire Planet; Harrison “Jack” Schmitt (B) Says Helium 3 Is Key To 2nd Generation Fusion Reactors

Image Credit: eoearth, D. Brunell, ISECG, NASA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 28-31 March 2014

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Moon South Pole 2016 Missions
An Emerging Priority For Space Powers

SouthPoleMoon2016

Japan / JAXA & Russia / Roscosmos Both Considering 2016 South Pole Lander; China May Be Evaluating South Pole Landing Of Chang’e-4; India Chandrayaan-2 South Pole Lander Could Be Ready For 2016 If GSLV 2nd Test Launch Successful; Europe Advancing South Pole Mission Concept; NASA Recognizes South Pole As Ideal Lunar Destination For Resource Prospecting / Utilization & Human Moon Base, USA Might Advance Lunar Lander Mission Development To Avoid Being Left Behind  

Image Credit: JAXA, ISRO, ROSCOSMOS, ESA, CNSA

Weekend Edition
Fri-Mon / 7-10 Mar 2014

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Pioneering Astronomy From The Moon:
CE3 On A New Frontier

LED-3-7-2014Lunar Ultraviolet Telescope Aboard China Chang’e-3 Moon Lander With All Systems Operating Nominally Is Conducting Various Astronomical Observations From Sinus Iridum / Mare Imbrium, 44.12°N 19.51°W; Latest Observations Of Variable Stars (≤Magnitude 12) Have Produced Good Data, Shown: Constellation Cygnus XZ Variable Star With Near Ultraviolet Optical Variable Amplitude Around 1.8 Magnitude; About 200 Square Degrees Of Sky Available To Telescope From Position On Top Of The Lander (Blue Arrow)

Image Credit: NAOC, CNSA

Thursday / 6 March 2014

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China Moon Program Might Benefit From
Mid-Course Correction To South Pole

ChinaMoonSouthPole0314Ideal Time For Leaders Of China Lunar Exploration Program To Reconsider Future Chang’e Missions To Moon South Pole; Future Problems Similar To Yutu Rover Control Circuit Malfunction Might Be Mitigated By More Thermally Stable Polar Environment; Chang’e Chief Scientist Ye Peijian Says Chang’e-4 Mission Should Be “More Innovative And Meaningful,” Achieving 1st-Ever Polar Landing Would Be Just That; Russia, India, USA, Private Enterprises All Advancing South Pole Missions

Image Credit: NASA, cnsphoto

Tuesday / 25 February 2014

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Chang’e-3 Enters 3rd Lunar Night

Hainan&Chang'e-3

China Moon Lander Enters Hibernation With All Systems Functioning Nominally On Morning Of 23 Feb; Lunar Ultraviolet Telescope & Extreme Ultraviolet Camera Continued To Gather Valuable Data During 3rd Lunar Day; Yutu Rover Sends Back New Photo Of Lander (R) Proving It Is Still Alive; New China Launch Site In Hainan Advancing With Completion Of Long March 7 & 5 Launch Platforms; Site Will Be Used For Launch Of Chang’e-5 Lunar Sample Return Mission (NET 2017)

Image Credit: CNSA

Thursday / 13 February 2014

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China Chang’e-4, -5, -6 Missions
Likely To Be Reconfigured

Chang'e-3-6_0214

Chang’e-3 Lander Now Into Lunar Day 3 After Apparent Yutu Rover Loss; In Completing ~50% Expected Mission Duration Rover Successfully Used Its Panoramic & Navigational Cameras, Alpha-Proton X-Ray Spectrometer & Underbelly Radar System, Providing Valuable Data; Paul Spudis Says China Accomplished All Of Its Major Mission Objectives; Chang’e-4, -5, -6 Will Be Upgraded & Possibly Delayed, As Mission Engineers Evaluate / Integrate Experience Gained From Yutu

Image Credit: CNSA