Space Topics: Chang'e 1
Mission Objectives
Chang'E 1 has four major mission objectives:
- Map the moon. Chang’E 1 will make a three-dimensional map
of many landforms and outline maps of major structures to help chart
areas for later soft landings. The mapping portion of the mission
will also cover currently unobserved areas of the lunar poles.
- Observe elements on the Moon. U.S. missions have observed five
major Moon elements, but Chang'E 1 aims to increase that number to fourteen.
- Measure the depth of the lunar soil and measure helium-3 abundance.
- Make observations about the space environment between Earth and the Moon,
specifically about solar wind and solar impact on the environment.
In addition, this mission will be used to help Chinese scientists gain experience
and learn about launching lunar missions, from start to finish. Many
aspects of this mission will be used and adapted for later missions.
Chang’E 1 is the first of a the three-part Chang’E series of
lunar exploration missions. These include the following parts:
- send a spacecraft into lunar orbit, charting possible landing sites for
later missions and performing observations from orbit
- soft land a detector and have wheeled rovers drive around the Moon’s
surface with a camera, a telescope, and equipment for recording earthquakes,
returning data to the Earth by radio
- send a spacecraft that could carry the soil collected by the robots back
to Earth
Once these missions are complete, manned landings will be possible.
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