China To Launch Chang'e-2 Lunar Probe Around 2009

DRAGON SPACE

The 2,350-kilogram satellite carrying eight surveying facilities aims to make a three-dimensional survey of the moon's surface.

by Staff Writers
Beijing (XNA) Feb 26, 2008
China plans to launch its second lunar probe, Chang'e-2, around 2009, according to a top satellite scientist. Ye Peijian, chief commander and designer of China's first moon probe satellite system, revealed the plan during an interview program on CCTV, China Central Television.

However, Ye did not elaborate on the plan with more details.

He said Chang'e-1, the country's first lunar probe, had resumed contact with the control center after it moved out of the shadow area caused by an eclipse of the sun at about 14:10 on Thursday.

From about 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, the satellite was blocked from the supply of solar energy when the Earth eclipsed the sun and lost the contact with the control center.

Scientists redirected the orbit of the satellite before the eclipse started.

"Chang'e-1 passed the test," Ye said, adding that when blocked from solar rays, the probe consumed only 40 percent of the battery power rather than the predicted 60 percent under a temperature of minus 100 degrees Celsius.

The satellite will perform another orbital adjustment while preparing for a second eclipse in August, he said.

The 2,350-kilogram satellite carrying eight surveying facilities aims to make a three-dimensional survey of the moon's surface. It will also analyze the abundance and distribution of elements on the lunar surface, investigate the characteristics of the powdery soil layer on the surface, and explore the environment between the Earth and the moon.

China's moon mission also includes a landing of a rover vehicle around 2012 and the launch of another rover that will land and return to the Earth with lunar soil and stone samples for scientific research around 2017.

Source: Xinhua News Agency

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS
Solar Energy Solutions
Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ...

Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News

DRAGON SPACE

China to launch second lunar probe in 2009: report

Beijing (AFP) Feb 22, 2008
China hopes to launch its second moon-orbiting satellite in 2009, state media reported Friday, as the country steps up its space programme.

INTERNET SPACE HP And Qualcomm To Deliver Options For Worldwide Internet Access Google's Android debuts in Barcelona Nokia says to launch touch-screen phone in late '08 Lenovo pitching PCs to wider French market	LAUNCH PAD Interorbital Systems Taps Destiny Space To Book Space Tourism And Satellite Launches Mitsubishi Targeting Foreign Satellite Launch Orders Japan successfully launches high-speed Internet satellite Arianespace Mission Update: The ATV Has Been Integrated On Its Ariane 5 Launcher
AEROSPACE Environmentalists climb on Heathrow jet in airport protest: officials NASA opens a rotary wing research project All-star line-up at first Singapore Airshow Military Aircraft To Perform Aviation Safety Research	MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS Northrop Grumman And Harris Demonstrate Airborne Networking EADS DS Delivers Army Command And Control Information System To Franco-German Brigade Thompson Files: Electronic war blindness Harris Provides American Forces Network With Broadcast System To Reach One Million Troops
TECH SPACE Satellite Debris Analysis Indicates Hydrazine Tank Hit Darkest material developed in lab NASA And Northrop Grumman Partner To Measure The Immeasurable US DoD Succeeds In Intercepting Non-Functioning Satellite	APPOINTMENTS NASA Names John Shannon New Space Shuttle Manager Michael Larkin Appointed Executive Vice President Of Orbital's Satellite Business Unit Boeing Integrated Defense Systems Looks To Future With Leadership Changes Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems Names Carey VP For ISR Systems
EARTH OBSERVATION NASA Extends Mission For Ball Aerospace-Built ICESat CIRA Scientist Among Authors Of Book Celebrating 50 Years Of Earth Observations From Space Indonesia To Develop New EO Satellite Russia To Launch Space Project To Monitor The Arctic In 2010	GPS NEWS Western Data Systems Markets Handheld Laser Systems Line of Products Telematics Outshines Telemetry In North America Garmin Opening Offices To Serve Australia And New Zealand Successful EGNOS Trial In San Sebastian

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement