Category Archives: Lunar Sample Return

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

Tuesday / 8 July 2014

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China Moon Plans Hint At Human Circumlunar Mission

SampleReturnHumanChina714

Speculation Arising That China Human Lunar Mission Plans More Ambitious Than Previously Known; Morris Jones Notes That Low-Key Discussions About Mission, Lack Of Mission Name, Participation Of A Separate Branch Of Space Program (Presumably Astronaut Program) Indicate Possibility Of Ulterior Mission Motive; Most Glaring Evidence Is Photo Showing Return Probe Is Scaled Copy Of Bell-Shaped Shenzhou Descent Module; Late 2014 Mission Has Been Announced As Precursor To Chang’e-5 Sample Return, Both Crafts Will Reenter Earth Atmosphere At ~40,230km/hr

Image Credit: CNSA, CASC

Thursday / 26 June 2014

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China Preparing Final Steps Of Uncrewed Lunar Exploration Phase, Eyeing Human Missions

ChinaMoonOuyang0614

China Lunar Exploration Program Senior Adviser Ouyang Ziyuan Says Simulation Lunar Return Satellite Will Be Launched Later This Year In Preparation For Moon Sample Return Chang’e-5 Mission Which Is Scheduled To Launch In 2017 Via Long March 5 Rocket From New Hainan Launch Center, Return Up To 10kg Of Lunar Samples; Exploration Program Will Then Shift To Human Moon Missions, & Possible Building Of Lunar Base; China Then Intends To Conduct Systematic Exploration Of Solar System 

Image Credit: CNSA

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