Latecomers overtaken running ahead - BBC

Chinese lunar rover became the first in the last 37 years the machine, made a soft landing on the moon. Sent to Earth for more than 4600 images.

China became the third country which has carried out a soft landing on the moon for the first time in the last 37 years. The last time the Earth’s natural satellite honored with such a visit in 1976, when on the surface to collect soil landed Soviet automatic station “Luna-24».

Then in the study of the Moon lull: her research or to send orbiters, or something broke on the surface.

«Leddy” went for moondust

U.S. launched the moon mission, which is to study its atmosphere elusive and mysterious glow horizon. Shattered by the moon, the unit diversifies … ?

Under the scrutiny of the Chinese media and the whole world moonwalker “Yuytu” (“Jade Hare”) moved for two specially unfolded farms and separated from the descent module “Chang’e-3″, which took him to the lunar surface a few hours earlier. At 23.42 Beijing time on Sunday 6-wheeled rover moved approximately 9 meters north of the landing module,

then rover and lander staged cross photographing each other.

The films distributed by Chinese TV, – the joy of the flight control center staff who clap their hands and pictures of each other on the phone.

And

frames transmitted lander – rover, which, judging by the trail has already turn around and show the world the Chinese flag, mounted on board.

«I declare the full success of the mission ‘Chang’e-3″ – announced on the eve Xingzheng Ma, head of the Chinese lunar program, during a live broadcast from Beijing.

Since its lunar landing lander and rover sent to earth for more than 4600 images of each other and of the lunar surface.

«Lunokhod-2″ is removed after 37 years

NASA announced more than 100,000 images of the lunar surface by the camera apparatus LRO. They found ways to track Soviet … ?

Now

rover opened its solar panels, and from whom will eat the next three months, has begun to visit lander and will proceed to the scientific work in the Bay of Rainbows – a large impact crater in the Sea of ??Rains, filled with solidified basalt lava.

is noteworthy that in 1970 to the southwest of the Bay of Rainbows got the first Soviet lunar rover, the first in the history of planetary rovers, who worked on the surface of another celestial body.

seems invented then Soviet designers six-wheeled scheme is justified, and now all extraterrestrial rovers use three pairs of wheels: these were the “Lunokhod-1″ and “Lunokhod-2″, an American miniature rover Sojourner, twins Spirit and Opportunity, as well as most advanced rover NASA Curiosity.

Unlike Soviet rovers, almost did not have on board scientific equipment, the Chinese “hare” more perfect. On board there is a radar, with which he will study the subsurface layers of the lunar soil. In addition to the radar, which is able to shine through the soil to a depth of 30 m, rover equipped with two panoramic cameras, as well as X-ray and infrared spectrometers, able to analyze the composition of lunar samples.

Lunokhod weighing 120 kg is able to overcome the biases of 30 degrees and drive at a speed of 200 m / h

Lake Hope

Curiosity rover dug into an ancient lake sediments, and scientists knew who could inhabit it in the past. Litoavtotrofnye microorganisms that … ?

If

Soviet rovers is powered by radioisotope sources, the Chinese will move only by the energy of solar cells, although at night, some devices will be heated by isotope plutnoiya-238.

However

Chinese themselves consider this mission as a preparation for return to Earth in 2017 for the delivery of the mission of the lunar soil and launch Chinese astronauts on the moon in the next decade. According to U.S. research analyst at the Heritage Foundation Dean Chen, the Chinese space program – a great example of showing “a comprehensive national strength.” “Look at how often the Chinese launch manned missions – almost every year! We do that only two countries were able to do once – the U.S. and the Soviet Union “, – he said.

However, what steps China is moving in space, allows to expect future success. “Late overtake running ahead” – old Chinese proverb, which two thousand years. Today “Chang’e-3″ goes to the moon, and “Jade Hare” already rolling on its surface. Unlike twelve Soviet and three American setbacks China did it in one fell swoop. This is amazing! “- Commented success of the Chinese astronautics Li Ao, a Taiwanese writer and social activist.