Xinhua Xianbao|Debut! The landmark achievements of Chang'e-6 are surprising
The Chang'e-6 returner, which has just completed its 53-day journey to the back of the moon, has arrived in Beijing and "unpacked and retrieved treasure".
What are the innovations of the Chang'e-6 mission? How is the rover harvested on the far side of the moon? What "souvenirs" did the international payload bring back? The China National Space Administration and other units gave the answer at the press conference of the State Council Information Office held on the 27th.
On the afternoon of June 26, researchers opened the Chang'e-6 returner to test the completion of key technical indicators. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Jin Liwang
——Innovation: Achieve "three technological breakthroughs" and "a world first".
Bian Zhigang, deputy director of the China National Space Administration, said that the Chang'e-6 mission is the most technologically advanced lunar exploration mission in China's aerospace history, achieving "three technological breakthroughs" and "a world first". That is, it has made a breakthrough in the design and control technology of the retrograde orbit of the moon, the intelligent sampling technology on the back of the moon, and the take-off and ascent technology on the back of the moon, and realized the world's first automatic sampling and return on the far side of the moon.
The far side of the Moon cannot communicate directly with the Earth, and sampling and landing on the far side of the Moon must rely on relay stars. Li Chun, deputy chief designer of the Chang'e-6 mission and a researcher at the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that this is an important verification and improvement of deep space communication technology.
In addition, the return of samples from the far side of the moon also faces challenges such as complex terrain, which increases the difficulty and risk of mission implementation. Lin Yiming, deputy general manager of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, said that considering various constraints such as illumination and measurement and control conditions on the back of the moon, a retrograde orbital flight scheme was designed, and the entire system was designed to be optimal and efficient.
"We put the 'physical health' of the probe and rocket first." Hu Hao, chief designer of the Chang'e-6 mission, said, "Before the Chang'e-6 mission, we conducted an in-depth review of the quality and reliability of the products in the sky and on the ground, so that the entire system can be more sound, healthier and more reliable." ”
People are concerned, how much lunar soil will Chang'e-6 bring back? Hu Hao revealed that the Chang'e-6 sample container can hold about 2 kilograms of lunar samples. The state of lunar soil collected on the back of the moon "does not seem to be quite the same" as the fine, loose state of lunar soil on the front side of the moon.
It is understood that the weight of the recovered lunar soil will be announced soon.
Chang'e-6 sampling replay footage taken on the screen of the Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center on June 4. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Jin Liwang
- Exploration: Send back the "gift package" of scientific data.
This time, there were also four international scientific payloads from ESA, France, Italy, and Pakistan.
On May 8, after the Chang'e-6 probe implemented near-moon braking, the Pakistani CubeSat successfully separated, and the lunar image was taken and successfully transmitted. On May 10, the China National Space Administration handed over the CubeSat data to Pakistan.
The other three international payloads will work smoothly after Chang'e-6 landed on the moon.
Among them, the Italian laser corner reflector is in normal condition, the French radon detector works on the lunar surface for 32 hours, and the ESA lunar surface negative ion analyzer works on the lunar surface for 3 hours and 50 minutes.
"These international payloads are doing an excellent job." Liu Yunfeng, head of the International Cooperation Department of the China National Space Administration, said.
On June 3, the "mobile camera" carried by Chang'e-6 took a group photo of the lander and ascender after moving autonomously and transmitting back. Xinhua News Agency (Photo courtesy of China National Space Administration)
- Follow-up: The door of my house is often open, and I am waiting for you with an open embrace.
Liu Yunfeng introduced that the China National Space Administration has successively formulated measures for the management of lunar samples and detailed rules for the implementation of international cooperation on lunar samples and scientific data, and announced in detail the application process for lunar sample research and specific information on international cooperation on lunar samples. "China welcomes scientific researchers from all countries to apply in accordance with the relevant procedures and share the benefits."
In addition, six international payloads have been selected for the Chang'e-7 mission; The Chang'e-8 mission provides the international community with about 200 kilograms of payload space, and has received more than 30 applications for cooperation.
In the International Lunar Research Station project, the China National Space Administration has signed cooperation agreements with more than 10 countries and international organizations, and will work with partners to carry out various forms of cooperation on the mission, design, joint implementation and scientific data sharing of future projects.
The deep space is vast, and human beings are infinite in their quest. Bian Zhigang said that the follow-up Chang'e-7 and 8, and the planetary exploration project Tianwen-2 and 3 are progressing as planned, and we look forward to working with more international counterparts to carry out in-depth international exchanges and cooperation in various forms of aerospace.
Source: Xinhua Vision