Posted on 11/20/2007 3:09:29 PM PST by blam
Chinese lunar orbiter to begin observations
11:33 20 November 2007
NewScientist.com news service
David Shiga
China's Chang'e 1 spacecraft entered lunar orbit on 7 November and is now ready to begin studying the Moon
Chang'e 1, China National Space Administration China National Space Administration Chang'e 1 information, NASA China's lunar orbiter is set to begin switching on its science instruments. The spacecraft should help determine the thickness of the lunar soil and shed new light on the Moon's internal composition, which could help in understanding its origins.
The China National Space Administration launched the Chang'e 1 spacecraft on 24 October and it settled into orbit around the Moon on 7 November.
Chang'e 1 is named after a goddess who flew to the Moon in a Chinese legend.
The spacecraft's capabilities are similar in many respects to those of the other three spacecraft that are either at the Moon already or heading there soon: Japan's Kaguya spacecraft, which is already in orbit, India's Chandrayaan-1, due to launch in early to mid 2008, and NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), slated for launch in late 2008.
Unique instrument
China's spacecraft is now set to begin the science phase of its mission by starting to gradually turn on its science instruments.
Like the other missions, Chang'e 1 has spectrometers to map the chemical composition of the Moon's surface, a laser altimeter to map the Moon's topography, and a camera to photograph the surface.
However it does have one unique instrument – a radiometer that operates at microwave frequencies. The microwave radiometer will measure heat radiation coming from the Moon. This will allow it to map the depth of the lunar soil across the Moon's surface because the layer's thickness affects the flow of heat.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.newscientist.com ...
The homes of Gammera and Godzilla have been located.
“Sounds like a first step toward mining or building.”
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Not with current rocket technology.
“Sounds like a first step toward mining or building. They won’t be doing it tomorrow but I suspect it’s on the agenda.”
Did we ever find anything worth building or mining for ?
The earth and moon are made of mostly the same things so just about any mineral found on the earth can be found on the moon.
Helium 3 is up there...supposedly in abundance.
Looking in the wrong place.
Hmmmm, interesting. Now the Chinese will be able to get all that information about the moon that we’ve already had for the last 40 years. Kewl.
;^)
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