Chinanews client, Beijing, December 17 (Zhang Nilanglang) In the early morning of the 17th, the Chang'e-5 probe returned to Earth after completing automatic lunar sampling and successfully landed at the Siziwang Banner Landing Field in Inner Mongolia.
From the launch of the Chang'e-5 probe on November 24, to the sampling work on the moon on December 1, and to its return to the earth on December 17, the Chang'e-5 spacecraft achieved China’s first lunar surface sampling and sampling in more than 20 days. Many major breakthroughs include packaging, lunar takeoff, lunar orbital rendezvous and docking, and reentry and return with samples.
How will the lunar samples brought back by Chang'e-5 be used?
Will it meet with the public?
Will China engage in manned moon landings?
On the 17th, the State Council Information Office held a press conference and responded to related issues.
At 1:59 on December 17, Beijing time, the Chang'e-5 returner successfully landed in the planned area of Siziwang Banner in Inner Mongolia.
Photo courtesy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Why did the landing site of Chang'e-5 mission choose to be in the storm ocean?
Li Chunlai, a researcher at the National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and deputy chief designer of the third phase of the lunar exploration project, introduced at the meeting that Chang'e-5 also includes the landing process of other extraterrestrial bodies and the selection of regions. In fact, it is a long-term strategic research and technological iteration. the process of.
The selection of the landing site for the Chang'e 5 mission mainly considers the following factors: First, the feasibility of the project, including the factors of safe landing morphology, as well as the light conditions of energy supply, thermal control conditions, communication factors, and measurement and control factors; another one A very important factor is to consider the scientific value of sample retrieval and in-situ detection.
The nine sampling sites in Russia and the United States are all in the range of 30 degrees latitude. The sampling site of Chang'e 5 selected the basalt area in the northeast corner of the storm ocean at 43 degrees. This is a brand-new sampling area and a brand-new sample study. Many scientific contributions should be made in surface weathering, volcanism, regional geological background, and regional geological evolution.
The picture shows the automatic sampling of the Chang'e-5 probe on the lunar surface.
(Photo courtesy of China National Space Administration issued by China News Service)
The lunar soil brought back by Changwu will enter the Tibet National Expo to meet with the public!
What uses will the lunar soil brought back by Chang'e 5 be used?
Wu Yanhua, deputy director of the National Space Administration and deputy commander-in-chief of the lunar exploration project, introduced at the press conference that lunar samples include three types of purposes: the first type, the main purpose, sampling is for scientific research; the second type, in order to be earlier When meeting with the public, some samples will be put in the National Museum of Tibet, displayed to the public, and popularized science education; the third type, generally in accordance with international cooperation conventions and multilateral and bilateral cooperation agreements, we will issue lunar samples and data management methods, and related It is shared by scientists from the country and the world, and part of it may be given as a national gift in accordance with international practice.
At 12:35 on December 6, Beijing time, the Chang'e-5 orbiter and returner assembly was successfully separated from the ascender and entered the phase of waiting around the moon, ready to return to Earth.
The picture shows the simulation diagram after the orbital return assembly is separated from the riser.
Photo courtesy of China National Space Administration
Lunar soil will be properly stored in Chairman Mao’s hometown for remote disaster preparedness
Li Chunlai introduced that the lunar samples collected will be properly stored, including consideration of remote disaster recovery storage.
Experts emphasize that most of the samples will be used for scientific research, and long-term and systematic research on lunar samples will be carried out in the laboratory, including its structure, physical properties, chemical composition, isotopic composition, mineral characteristics and geological evolution. On the one hand, we hope to deepen our understanding of the origin and evolution of the moon.
In addition, according to Wu Yanhua, the precious lunar soil must be prepared for remote disasters.
In addition to the National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing as the main storage location, the National Space Administration will conduct remote disaster preparedness in the hometown of Chairman Mao in Shaoshan, Hunan. The long-cherished wish of "Lan Yue" came true.
The picture shows the panoramic camera of the Chang'e-5 lander and ascender combination.
(Photo courtesy of China National Space Administration)
Chang'e-6, Mars exploration... China still has these big plans!
During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period and a period in the future, what major engineering tasks will China Aerospace need to implement, and what other policies will it issue?
In response, Wu Yanhua said that the "14th Five-Year Plan" and the long-term goal of the demonstration are in full swing.
He emphasized that the tasks determined around the basic plan for lunar exploration are the four phases of the lunar exploration project, which includes a total of four missions.
The first mission was the Chang'e-4 landing patrol survey on the back of the moon.
The second mission is Chang'e-6. We will further optimize and demonstrate the engineering goals and scientific goals. For example, the work related to sampling and returning to the polar region of the moon is being further demonstrated.
There are also Chang'e 7 and 8 missions in the plan. We plan to use this as an opportunity to cooperate with relevant countries and international organizations to jointly demonstrate the basic capabilities of the initial construction of lunar research stations or verify core technologies.
The plan for planetary exploration is also basically clear and awaits national approval.
The first mission has been implemented, the first Mars exploration mission, Tianwen-1, which was successfully launched in Wenchang on July 23 this year. The current state is very good. It has flown about 370 million kilometers and is currently more than 100 million kilometers away from the earth.
If according to the predetermined plan, it will reach Mars in mid-February next year and begin to orbit the fire detection.
In mid-May next year, it is planned to land on Mars for inspection and exploration.
In addition, we have also planned three planetary exploration missions, including an asteroid detection and sampling, a sampling return of Mars, and a Jupiter orbiting exploration and planetary crossing exploration.
In addition, according to him, China’s manned spaceflight will follow the "three-step" plan. Next year and the next year will be very busy times for the third phase of the project. It is planned to use two years to complete a total of 11 space station launch missions, including The core cabin planned to be launched in the first half of next year, there are two test cabins, and four cargo spacecraft, about four manned spacecraft, a total of close to 11 missions, to be completed in two years.
Then, a large number of scientific experiments on orbit must be carried out.
The picture shows the Chang'e-5 lander and ascender combination panoramic camera shooting the five-star red flag successfully deployed on the moon.
(Photo courtesy of China National Space Administration)
China's manned landing on the moon must serve scientific research
In the future, what is China's plan for manned landing on the moon?
In this regard, Wu Yanhua said that in the future, as to whether there will be a manned moon landing plan, in accordance with the current initial intention of the Chinese government, we will first engage in key technological research and wait for the completion of a low-Earth orbit space station before planning and demonstrating whether a manned moon landing is required.
He emphasized that the purpose of the Chinese government for manned landing on the moon may be different from that of the U.S. manned landing on the moon. At that time, the United States and the Soviet Union were engaged in Star Wars with "who will go first" and "go more" as the main purpose.
"Our manned moon landing must serve scientific research and explore the unknown. The current lunar takeoff, orbital rendezvous and docking, and reentry and return are all necessary technologies for manned return in the future. These technologies have been verified, It is also laying the foundation for the future manned moon landing." Wu Yanhua said.
At 1:59 on December 17, Beijing time, the Chang'e-5 returner successfully landed in the planned area of Siziwang Banner in Inner Mongolia.
According to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the whole body of the return capsule is indeed warm babies.
Photo courtesy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Will China share lunar samples with NASA?
Wu Yanhua said at the meeting that according to the Outer Space Treaty, outer space resources are the common wealth of mankind, and the Chinese government will implement it in accordance with the Outer Space Treaty.
The Chinese government is willing to share lunar samples, including relevant exploration data, with like-minded institutions and scientists from various countries for scientific analysis.
Regrettably, in 2011, the US Congress passed the "Wolf Clause", restricting official agencies such as NASA and the Science Committee of the State Council to cooperate with China's spaceflight.
"Whether we can cooperate depends on the policy of the US government. We are willing to carry out sincere and friendly cooperation with the US government agencies, enterprises and institutions, scientists and engineers on the basis of the principles of equality and mutual benefit, peaceful use, and win-win cooperation. "He emphasized.
National Space Administration spokesperson Xu Hongliang said at the meeting that the China National Space Administration has signed more than 140 cooperation agreements with more than 40 countries and has participated deeply in the relevant work of 18 international organizations.
Moon samples are the common wealth of mankind. We are willing to cooperate with international counterparts in a way of equality, mutual benefit, and mutual benefit.
Xu Hongliang said that in order to do a good job in the management of lunar samples and data sharing, the China National Space Administration will issue a special management method and follow-up management policies for lunar samples.
In the follow-up, relevant domestic science and technology departments will jointly issue relevant plans for soliciting lunar sample analysis to international counterparts. At the same time, relevant scientists at home and abroad will be organized to select plans, share some results, and conduct joint research, including some data opening. relevant job.
At 1:59 on December 17, Beijing time, the Chang'e-5 returner successfully landed in the planned area of Siziwang Banner in Inner Mongolia.
Photo courtesy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
China and Russia may carry out lunar exploration cooperation
At the meeting, Xu Hongliang also introduced that various countries in the world have carried out deep space exploration of the moon and beyond. Russia, the United States, Europe, Japan, and India all have their own lunar exploration plans, which are actually relatively vast and vast. In other words, our understanding of the origin of the universe and the deep space is still a drop in the bucket, and a lot of work needs to be carried out. It is necessary to jointly explore unknown areas and countries to carry out related activities, which is conducive to the common understanding of the mysteries of the moon and the universe.
He emphasized that we also advocate that, for the exploration of the same goal, various countries can cooperate, aiming at different scientific goals and tasks. They can also have their own priorities and coordinate their respective resources to cooperate in implementation. There are also some related organizations in the world, such as Speaking of the International Deep Space Exploration Coordination Group, each country is focusing on its own plans, and colleagues from all countries are sharing some of their own ideas, and at the same time, they are also carrying out related cooperation according to some division of labor.
He said that in the future, China will implement Chang'e-7 exploration and want to explore the south pole of the moon.
Russia also has a probe called "Moon-Resource-1", which is often referred to as LUNA-26. We are preparing to carry out related cooperation in this area under the cooperation mechanism between the Chinese and Russian governments.
At the same time, we also welcome other countries to cooperate with us similar to the International Lunar Research Station, as well as deep space exploration beyond the moon, through more cooperation, and jointly contribute to the improvement of human welfare.
(Finish)