China News Service, Beijing, December 3 (Guo Chaokai, Ye Yutian, Duan Xun) The reporter learned from the China National Space Administration that at 22:00 on December 2, after about 19 hours of lunar surface work, the lunar exploration project Chang'e-5 probe successfully completed the lunar surface Automatic sampling, and the sample has been packaged and stored in a storage device carried by the riser in a predetermined form.

The probe automatically samples on the surface of the moon.

Image source: China National Space Administration

  During the sampling and packaging process, scientific and technical personnel simulated the geographic model of the sampling area according to the data returned by the detector in the ground laboratory and simulated sampling throughout the entire process, providing an important basis for sampling decision-making and operation of each link.

The lunar soil structure detector and other payloads configured by the lander are working normally, and scientific detection is carried out as planned, and sampling information support is provided.

  Automatic sampling is one of the core key links of the Chang'e-5 mission. The detector withstands the test of lunar surface temperature exceeding 100 degrees Celsius, overcomes the constraints of measurement and control, illumination, and power supply, and relies on a newly developed extraterrestrial celestial body sample collection mechanism , Separately collect lunar samples by mechanical arm surface extraction and drilling tool drilling, realizing multi-point and diversified automatic sampling.

  Among them, the drilling tool drilled the lunar soil samples under the lunar surface, and the robotic arm carried out various sampling on the lunar surface with the support of the end sampler.

In order to ensure that the lunar sample is kept vacuum tight and not affected by the external environment during the return to the earth, the probe is sealed and encapsulated on the lunar surface.

  The Chang'e-5 probe is equipped with a variety of payloads such as landing cameras, panoramic cameras, lunar soil structure detectors, lunar mineral spectrum analyzers, etc., which can detect and study the lunar surface morphology and mineral composition, and detect the shallow structure of the moon. Play an important role in scientific exploration missions.

  Before the probe drilled and sampled, the lunar soil structure detector analyzed and judged the underground lunar soil structure in the sampling area, and provided a data reference for sampling.

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