How to formulate the "three steps" of the lunar exploration project? Exclusive interview with the first commander of the moon exploration project
The Chang'e-5 probe successfully collected samples and returned from the moon, and successfully completed the last step of the three-step "circle, fall, and return" of the lunar exploration project.
How was the plan for the lunar exploration project formulated that year?
What are the unknown stories in this?
A CCTV reporter from the main station interviewed one of the planners of the lunar exploration project, the former director of the National Space Administration, and academician Luan Enjie, the first commander-in-chief of the lunar exploration project, who is already 80 years old this year.
How was the "three-step" plan for the lunar exploration project formulated
CCTV reporter Cui Xia:
We determined the three steps of "circumnavigation, fall, and return" at the time. Was it in the demonstration stage or was it planned after the launch?
Luan Enjie, the first commander-in-chief of the lunar exploration project, the former director of the National Space Administration of China, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering:
at the time of demonstration.
The goals in my mind at the time were all engineering goals.
For example, my carrying capacity, orbital measurement and control ability, and the ability to reach the lunar vehicle being captured by the moon are more important in my mind, and that is to complete the engineering ability.
CCTV reporter Cui Xia:
How do you determine the three-step strategy of "circumnavigation, fall, and return"?
Luan Enjie, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, former director of the National Space Administration, and the first commander-in-chief of the lunar exploration project:
How exactly do you accomplish this goal?
I couldn't answer at that time. I was an engineer and I couldn't answer exactly what I was going to do.
When proposing the overall plan at that time, the comrades of the Academy of Sciences proposed that not only did we want to do such a survey, but we also hoped that we would also do basic on-site surveys.
Then it’s best to send astronauts back like the United States to bring back a lot of things. Russia sends the probes to bring back some things.
Just put forward these three goals, can they be achieved?
CCTV reporter Cui Xia:
What are the three goals?
Luan Enjie, former director of the National Space Administration, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the first commander-in-chief of the lunar exploration project: It
is the so-called circumnavigation detection, which means you see and then contact in-situ detection, then you can get things back and conduct research on the ground.
Chang'e-5 creates many firsts in China's aerospace
From the successful launch of the first moon-orbiting satellite Chang'e-1 in 2007, we have broken through the ability to reach and land on the moon.
Luan Enjie said that Chang'e-5 is my country's most complex space mission so far, and its success has also created many firsts in China's spaceflight.
CCTV reporter Cui Xia:
Chang'e 5 is also known as the most difficult project in the history of China's aerospace. The first time it is complicated and many, what do you think is the difficulty?
Luan Enjie, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the former director of the National Space Administration, the first commander-in-chief of the lunar exploration project:
we must first be captured by the moon, and how to gather it in the gravitational field of the moon.
Therefore, the brakes must be decelerated. This ability is not the ability of the Chang'e-3 rocket in the past.
Because the Chang'e 5 we sent this time weighs more than 8 tons.
After reaching the moon's orbit, the location of Chang'e-5 landing on the moon is another test it will face next.
Luan Enjie, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the former director of the National Space Administration, the first commander-in-chief of the lunar exploration project:
When some of our mechanism devices are in operation, something unexpected may be stuck.
Because of the condition of the moon, I am personally worried that we are not very clear about the ground condition of our true setting, whether the surrounding environment is very flat, and whether there are no other obstacles.
When the Chang'e-5 lander has landed safely, sample collection will begin.
The collection method is another brand new attempt for China Aerospace.
Luan Enjie, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, former director of the National Space Administration, the first commander-in-chief of the lunar exploration project:
I started sampling after landing.
We have a hand to shovel, called a manipulator.
Using a robot on an alien planet, we, China, dig the lunar soil for the first time, and also do it for the first time.
The drilling mechanism for our moon is the first time our country has designed it. I describe it as Harbin sausage.
When drilling, it needs to pack the part of the drilled core into a package. This package is a long one, so like a sausage, it should be tightly wrapped and sealed.
Because these soils are lunar, they cannot be contaminated by the earth when they are transferred to the earth.
Because the earth environment is different from the lunar environment, some substances must be kept in a very clean environment to keep the things we took.
So we have a lunar landing device, transfer these things to my ascender, the sample is sealed, and some mechanical devices like our orbiter must be completed in my ascender.
After sampling, the Chang'e-5 ascender will be launched on the moon, rendezvous and dock with the orbiter and the returner in the lunar orbit, and transfer the lunar samples to the returner.
Luan Enjie, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, former director of the National Space Administration, the first commander-in-chief of the lunar exploration project:
There are many countries that can go to the moon, including Japan and India in Asia.
But coming back from the moon, this is another big step.
Our country is listed as the third country that can return samples from the moon.
Chang'e-5: A threshold for becoming a space power
Luan Enjie said in an exclusive interview that the successful completion of the Chang'e-5 mission has enabled my country to enter the world's first echelon of lunar exploration technology, laying a key foundation for my country to become a space power.
In his heart, "Chang'e" is like his own child, watching her grow up all the way for more than ten years.
Luan Enjie, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the former director of the National Space Administration and the first commander-in-chief of the lunar exploration project:
I have watched it grow and make progress step by step over the past ten years.
And our team is getting younger and younger, which is my greatest comfort.
Now the 30 or 40-year-olds of the Chang'e team have grown up. What do you say are you happiest?
Someone is follow-up.
CCTV reporter Cui Xia:
Do you think your vision at the time has been realized?
Luan Enjie, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the former director of the National Space Administration, the first commander-in-chief of the lunar exploration project:
I have said that when the four sons of the king will meet, Chang'e will go home and make a big success. This is our commitment to the motherland.
Our astronauts have worked hard for more than ten years and have completed the third phase of the goal, making our country into the ranks of an advanced country capable of deep space exploration from the moon.
CCTV reporter Cui Xia:
What is your dream?
Luan Enjie, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, former director of the National Space Administration, the first commander-in-chief of the lunar exploration project:
dream of independence and control, basic capabilities, access capabilities, and detection capabilities. The improvement of these capabilities will be the foundation for the development of future aerospace industry.
Therefore, if the foundation is firmly laid, we will see far, our path can go further, and our tasks can become broader and broader.
Our dream is more and more (achievable) realized.