"Jade Rabbit" successfully landed on the lunar surface - 3DNews

Chinese probe Chang’e-3 lunar rover on board “that Yue” (Jade Rabbit) made a soft landing on the lunar surface on December 13 at about 17:00 Moscow time. Unmanned spacecraft, launched from the Xichang launch site in Chinese night of 1 to 2 December 2013, is a pioneer in the study of China for satellite Earth directly from its surface. Recall that the Chang’e 1 and 2 explored the moon from its orbit, making a detailed map of the landscape and studying all the necessary factors for the next step “moon landing”.

After reaching 100 km lunar orbit on December 6, Chang’e-3 began to prepare the system for the most important phase of the mission and landing. Upon entering the lunar orbit space probe was 6 stages of inhibition, down from a height of 15 km to the surface of the satellite, using motors with variable thrust. The process was controlled shutter 28 small motors. At a height of 4 m from the lunar landing system is completely drowned out the main engine to carry out further freefall probe to the surface. Landing, as planned, took place in “Bay of Rainbows” and passed technically flawless. Spacecraft docking implemented even 30 minutes ahead of schedule.

After

soft docking Chang’e-3 launch lunohodny module, which will communicate with the control center of the lunar mission. Once the connection is established, “Yue that” unlocks the protective mechanism and activates the trigger removal system management ladder.

itself rover is equipped with a radioisotope thermoelectric generator, which will be responsible for the power of the machine during the execution of research missions lasting for 3 months. Energy produced by the generator also supports the work of the scientific equipment and cameras. Launch the research mission rover must be realized today. During the lunar day, “Yue that” will receive energy from installed on the solar panels. The maximum distance from the landing site, which will be able to overcome the machine, will be about 10 km.

“Jade Rabbit” has at its disposal devices such as navigation and panoramic cameras, infrared and X-ray spectrometers, and he has the ability to conduct video transmission in real time and in high resolution, while taking passes and study samples soil. Module Chang’e-3, which brought to the surface rover also has a set of scientific equipment, which includes ultraviolet telescope for observing the Earth and other celestial objects. One of the priority goals of the Chinese expedition as installation time and is the first telescope on the moon.

Chinese space program met with disapproving reaction from the United States. In a recent article said that the Chang’e-3 went into lunar orbit, where it arrived shortly before the American orbiter LADEE. According to statements by the U.S. government, the activities of the Chinese spacecraft orbiting of difficult studies of lunar dust from engine exhaust Chang’e-3 and extra dust that rises when landing probe. Although such statements look more like NASA fears about the further development of the lunar program by the Chinese government. Installing the Chinese flag on the moon – it is only the beginning of a large space path. By 2020 is planned landing on the moon astronauts from China, and this will mean behind the scenes, what China will mark its Earth satellite area of ??research and may proceed to the future development of rare chemical elements among the first.

And now the bad news for those who are planning to hit the jackpot of $ 20 million in premiums under Google Lunar X Prize. Under the terms of competition, the top prize for a private company that successfully dock your rover to the surface of the moon and will do some competitive requirements decreased by $ 5 million and is now $ 15 million The reason for this is precisely the success of the Chinese lunar landing probe Chang’e-3, designed and launched by the PRC government funds. However, participants Lunar X Prize is now an incentive to perform additional tasks for non-competition rover that will encourage individual premium of $ 5 million

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