China launched a lunar mission on the reverse side of the moon
China became the first country in the world to launch a “lunar rover” on the opposite side of the moon. Apparatus for the study of the "dark" side of the natural satellite of the Earth "Chang'e-4" launched in China, according to the TV channel CGTN.
The “Changzhen-3B / E” rocket with the mission “Chang'e-4” was launched from the Sichang 8 space center on December 12 at 02: 20 local time. (21: 20 Moscow time 7 December). It is expected that the descent vehicle will make a soft landing on the far side of the moon in early January 2019.
China launched the lunar program in 2007, when it launched the first satellite to the moon. Then, in 2010, a second satellite was launched, which together with the first one studied the surface of the Earth satellite. In 2013, the Chinese launched the Chang'e-3, which made a successful landing on the lunar surface. Launched yesterday, the unit Chang'e-4 was built as a backup for the Chang'e-3 and is technically similar to the main unit. It consists of a landing platform and a lunar rover fixed on it. After landing, the moon rover leaves the platform, after which both parts of the apparatus begin independent scientific programs. The total mass of the apparatus is 1,2 tons, of which 140 kilograms fall on the moon rover.
The main difficulty of the launched mission is the inability to communicate directly with the Earth, so China launched the Queqiao satellite repeater in advance, which a month later went into halo-orbit around the Lagrange point L2 of the Earth-Moon system. Being at this point, the satellite will be visible from the Earth and simultaneously accessible to the moon rover.
Also at the beginning of next year two more lunar missions are planned - the Indian and Israeli ones, and if Israel plans to launch only the landing platform, then India, together with the platform, launches its lunar rover. Naturally, both missions will be on the "bright" side of the moon.
The “Changzhen-3B / E” rocket with the mission “Chang'e-4” was launched from the Sichang 8 space center on December 12 at 02: 20 local time. (21: 20 Moscow time 7 December). It is expected that the descent vehicle will make a soft landing on the far side of the moon in early January 2019.
Lunokhod "Yuytu", part of the mission "Chang'e-3"
China launched the lunar program in 2007, when it launched the first satellite to the moon. Then, in 2010, a second satellite was launched, which together with the first one studied the surface of the Earth satellite. In 2013, the Chinese launched the Chang'e-3, which made a successful landing on the lunar surface. Launched yesterday, the unit Chang'e-4 was built as a backup for the Chang'e-3 and is technically similar to the main unit. It consists of a landing platform and a lunar rover fixed on it. After landing, the moon rover leaves the platform, after which both parts of the apparatus begin independent scientific programs. The total mass of the apparatus is 1,2 tons, of which 140 kilograms fall on the moon rover.
The main difficulty of the launched mission is the inability to communicate directly with the Earth, so China launched the Queqiao satellite repeater in advance, which a month later went into halo-orbit around the Lagrange point L2 of the Earth-Moon system. Being at this point, the satellite will be visible from the Earth and simultaneously accessible to the moon rover.
Also at the beginning of next year two more lunar missions are planned - the Indian and Israeli ones, and if Israel plans to launch only the landing platform, then India, together with the platform, launches its lunar rover. Naturally, both missions will be on the "bright" side of the moon.
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