Source: clep.org.cn

10-20-2007 11:21

Adhering to the principle of "focusing on certain tasks while putting others aside", Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (COSTIND) determined the scientific and engineering objectives of China's Lunar Exploration Program and worked out a “three-phase” medium- and long-range planning for lunar exploration.

Phase I: Orbiting the moon. China’s first lunar exploration satellite is to be launched. This would be a breakthrough in flight technology to extraterrestrial body. Through remote sensing exploration, China will obtain 3D images of the lunar surface, analyze the content of useful elements and types of materials, and explore the characteristics of lunar soil and the space environment between the earth and the moon.

Phase II: Landing. A soft lunar lander is expected to be launched, carrying a lunar rover for soft landing on the moon and automatic survey, which means a breakthrough in landing technology on extraterrestrial body. The rover would collect data on the lunar topography, geological structure, chemical and mineral contents of rocks and the environment of the lunar surface. It also will make in-site lunar rock detection and sample analysis, the sun-earth-moon space environment monitoring and lunar based astronomical observation.

Phase III: Sample returning. The soft lander will automatically collect lunar samples and return to the earth, making breakthrough in the technology of returning to earth from extraterrestrial body. Those samples would be analyzed on earth, which would help deepen the understanding to the origin and evolution of the earth-moon system.

 

Editor:Liu Fang