Written by Derek Kessler on
Wednesday, 24 October 2007
According to the official Chinese news agency Xinhau, China has successfully launched its first moon probe, Chang'e 1. The probe was launched aboard a Long March 3A rocket at 6:05 PM local time from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern Sichuan Province. The satellite itself is actually based on an older Chinese communications satellite and reportedly carries 280 pounds of scientific instruments to study the moon.
According to the official mission description, Chang'e 1 carries two primary imaging systems, a three dimensional optical scanner and a gamm/x-ray spectrometer to determine and map the chemical composition of the moon's surface. Also onboard is a laser altimeter to assist in creating accurate altitude measuments for the 3D imaging, a microwave reflector to determine the depth of the regolith (the soil over the bedrock), and equipment to analyze the solar particles that make it to the moon.
Chang'e 1, which is named after a mythical Chinese goddess who flew to the moon, will enter lunar orbit on November 5th after completing a series of systems checks over the next week while in Earth orbit. The Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) plans to study the moon with Chang'e 1 for at least a year.
Today's launch comes only a few weeks after Japan launched its massive Kaguya probe towards the moon. In 2003, China became only the third country to launch an astronaut into orbit (following the USSR and United States), and earlier this year became the first country to successfully destroy a satellite with a missile from the ground. The recent launches from Japan and China have kicked off an unofficial Asian space race, with India planning to launch its own lunar probe in April.
According to the official Chinese news agency Xinhau, China has successfully launched its first moon probe, Chang'e 1. The probe was launched aboard a Long March 3A rocket at 6:05 PM local time from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern Sichuan Province. The satellite itself is actually based on an older Chinese communications satellite and reportedly carries 280 pounds of scientific instruments to study the moon.
