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China to launch lunar probe this month |
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Written by Derek Kessler on
Tuesday, 16 October 2007
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 Chang'e 1, China's first lunar mission, is set to be launched by the end of this month, Chinese news outlets are reporting. This follows on the heals of the launch just a few weeks ago of Japan's lunar orbiter, Kaguya. The orbiter will use stereo cameras and x-ray spectrometers to analyze the moon and make three-dimensional images of the moon's surface.
In addition to the x-ray scanner and stereo camera, Chang'e 1 will also carry equipment to analyze solar-wind particles that happen to reach the moon and additional microprobes to study the moon. The satellite weighs in at a hefty 2350 kg, and will enter the moon in a polar orbit for an initial period of one year. Chang'e 1 is already at the launch pad, sitting atop a Chinese Long March 3A rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province.
It was just four years ago that China launched its first manned mission, and the Chinese space program has made it clear that they intend to launch a manned moon mission in the near future. Between China, South Korea, and Japan a new space race has started, with all preparing for a variety of missions from solar probes to manned lunar expeditions.
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"Cardassian rule may have been oppressive, but at least it was simple."
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