The People's Republic of China continues to work on its projects in the rocket and space field. Perhaps the most daring and ambitious is the lunar exploration project. Within the framework of their own lunar program, Chinese specialists have already developed and implemented several projects, and continue to work on new spacecraft. In the near future, another device will be sent to the Moon. For the first time in the history of Chinese astronautics, it is planned to deliver samples of lunar soil to Earth.
Recall that the Chinese rocket and space industry took the first steps in the study of the only natural satellite of the Earth a long time ago. The first real results were obtained in 2007. On October 24, 2007, the launch vehicle with the Chang'e-1 spacecraft was launched. This device and all subsequent developments of the "lunar destination" got their name in honor of the character of Chinese mythology, who was directly related to the Moon (in some myths Chang'e is even called the goddess of the Moon). A few days later, the lunar module entered the specified orbit and began collecting information about the lunar surface. During the year, the device was surveying the satellite's surface, which was necessary to compile its detailed three-dimensional map. On March 1, 2009, the Chang'e-1 product was de-orbited and fell onto the lunar surface.
Heavy launch vehicle "Changzheng-5" before the first launch, November 2016. Photo by the Chinese Academy of Space Technology / cast.org.cn
On October 1, 2010, the Chang'e-2 mission was launched. This time the purpose of the spacecraft was to study a given region of the moon, in which it was supposed to make a soft landing of the next lunar module. After all the required actions, the Chang'e-2 spacecraft was brought to the L2 Lagrange point (Earth-Moon system), and then sent towards the asteroid (4179) Tautatis. At the end of 2012, images of a celestial body were taken, after which the research vehicle went into deep space.
A flyby of the moon with a survey of its surface was the first stage of the Chinese lunar program. As part of the second stage, it was proposed to deliver a landing module with a rover on board to a natural satellite. In early December 2013, the Chang'e-3 module was sent to the Moon with the Yuytu lunar rover (Jade Hare - Chang'e's satellite). In the middle of the month, the vehicle made a soft landing in a given area. It is noteworthy that this mission made the PRC the third country in the world that managed to land a research apparatus on the moon. Previously, only the Soviet Union and the United States were able to do this. After the landing, the tasks of the Chang'e-3 mission were only partially solved due to various technical problems.
China's rocket and space industry is currently preparing for the third phase of its lunar exploration program. This time, the task of spacecraft is not only to land on the surface of the satellite, but also to collect soil samples with their subsequent delivery to Earth. This task is supposed to be solved during the Chang'e-5 mission. In addition, to work out some issues, it was necessary to develop an auxiliary spacecraft "Chang'e-5T1".
The landing module of the Chang'e-3 station. Photo Spaceflight101.com
Before preparing for the launch of the Chang'e-5 mission, it was decided to conduct preliminary studies using the Chang'e-5T1 analogue station. Unlike a full-fledged automatic lunar station, the product with the letters "5T1" included only a service module on the DFH-3A platform and a descent vehicle. The mission was to fly around the moon along a given trajectory, followed by a return to Earth and dropping the descent vehicle. Such a flight was supposed to show the potential of the Chang'e-5 spacecraft under development, and was also needed to determine the necessary modifications.
On October 23, 2014, the Changzheng-3C launch vehicle was launched from the Xichang cosmodrome (Sichuan province) and brought the Chang'e-5T1 spacecraft to a predetermined trajectory. It took about five days to fly to the Moon and pass through its orbit, after which the device headed back to Earth. On October 31, the service module dropped the lander, after which it landed in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Over the next few weeks, a number of orbital adjustments were made, after which Chang'e-5T1 again went to the Moon. At the end of November, the device was launched into orbit near the L2 Lagrange point, where it was planned to keep it for new research.
In early 2017, the Chinese media published information about the current state of the Chang'e-5 project and the current plans for the space industry. By this time, the Chinese National Space Administration and the enterprises of the rocket and space industry had managed to make enough progress in preparing a future mission. In addition, the launch dates for the new spacecraft were set by January. So, the first results of the new project should be received this year.
Lunokhod "Yuytu" on the lunar surface. Photo Spaceflight101.com
According to official reports, the launch of the Chang'e-5 mission will take place in November. By the end of the month, the unmanned lunar station will enter Earth satellite orbit and then drop a lander, which will be tasked with conducting surface research and collecting samples. In the absence of serious technical problems, by the beginning of next year, new portions of regolith will be in the hands of Chinese scientists, and in quite large quantities.
According to available data, the automatic station "Chang'e-5" will be a fairly large and heavy complex, consisting of several main components. To solve all assigned tasks, modules with special equipment with a total weight of 8200 kg will be used. In this regard, the launch of the station will be carried out by a heavy-class carrier rocket "Changzheng-5".
This rocket has a three-stage design and is capable of launching up to 25 tons of cargo into low-earth orbit. Engines of different stages and accelerators use kerosene or liquefied hydrogen with liquid oxygen as an oxidizing agent. In early November last year, the Changzheng-5 rocket made its maiden flight. The second and final launch to date took place on July 2 this year. Both times, the rockets were launched from the Wenchang Cosmodrome (Hainan Island). The next launch is scheduled for November. In this case, the Chang'e-5 station will become the payload of the launch vehicle. In the future, a rocket of a new type can be used again within the framework of the lunar program.
To solve the problem of collecting lunar soil with the subsequent return of samples to Earth, the Chang'e-5 spacecraft should consist of several main components: an orbital, landing, takeoff and return module. Also previously published information about the possibility of using a rover, but in the future, apparently, such a product was decided to be transferred to the next mission. Thus, the collection of soil samples will be carried out in the immediate vicinity of the lander. Nevertheless, it should be noted that in this case, the successful completion of the mission will be a real breakthrough for the Chinese astronautics.
Experimental spacecraft "Chang'e-5T1". Figure Space.skyrocket.de
One of the largest parts of the promising complex will be an orbital module designed to ensure the delivery of other components to the Moon and back to Earth. It receives a cylindrical body, on the sides of which solar panels are deployed in flight. The module is also equipped with a power plant with fuel tanks, control equipment and a casing for connection to the landing module. A separate return module will be located inside the enclosure.
According to the published images, the lander will be a platform with several lightweight tubular supports and a set of special equipment. It is proposed to equip it with solar panels, accumulators, controls and devices for collecting soil. The roof of the hull of this product will become the launch pad for the takeoff module. Thus, the lander will be able to collect samples and ensure their delivery to the lunar orbit. According to reports, the total mass of the lander will be 1200 kg.
It is proposed to install a soil collection system on the lander body using the percussion drilling principle. With the help of a movable support, the drill will be brought to the surface of the soil, after which it will be able to drill small holes in it. Special cylindrical containers have been developed for transporting samples. After loading the sample, the container will be hermetically sealed and placed in the appropriate volume of the takeoff module. It is claimed that spacecraft will be able to bring 2 kg of regolith to Earth.
The Chang'e-5T1 descent vehicle. Photo Wikimedia Commons
The landing module will be able to carry out part of the research right on the spot. For this, he is equipped with some special equipment. Onboard there are tools for analyzing soil composition, a soil gas analyzer, a mineral spectrometer, etc. To control the operation of controlled and automated systems, the module receives cameras, landing sighting devices and other devices.
The takeoff module proposed in the Chang'e-5 project is a relatively compact and lightweight device with its own power plant and control systems, as well as a compartment for loading containers with samples. As follows from the published data, payload containers can be transferred to other components of the complex. This is necessary to facilitate the transportation of soil to the Earth.
The recoverable module of the Chang'e-5 station was developed using the experience of creating and operating manned spacecraft of the Shenzhou series and therefore must have the appropriate shape. This device will receive equipment for automatic control during independent flight in space and after entering the atmosphere. In addition, the returned module must be equipped with thermal protection. Descent in the atmosphere, after braking to acceptable speeds, will be carried out using a parachute.
From the point of view of the complexity of the program, the Chang'e-5 mission should differ markedly from its predecessors, which, first of all, is connected with the set goals. The launch vehicle will launch the entire complex into a given orbit, after which it will correct its trajectory and go to the Moon. In the orbit of the Earth satellite, undocking will occur, after which the lander will go to its surface. The orbital module, in turn, will remain on its trajectory and will wait for the vehicle with a payload.
The architecture of the automatic station "Chang'e-5". Figure Spaceflight101.com
After reaching the lunar surface, the lander will have to prepare for further work by deploying solar panels, drilling rigs, etc. Then his task will be to drill holes and collect samples with the subsequent loading of containers into the take-off module. Upon completion of this stage of work, the takeoff module, using its own propulsion system, will return to orbit. The lander will remain on the natural satellite of the Earth.
In a circumlunar orbit, the take-off module will have to automatically dock with the orbital one. After that, the containers with the samples will be transferred to the returned apparatus. Then the orbital module with the reentry vehicle will be able to change the trajectory and go to Earth. At some, relatively small, distance from the planet, they will undock. The orbital module will burn up in the atmosphere, while the returning one will have to land safely in a given area, delivering samples to scientists.
The launch of the new automatic lunar station is scheduled for November this year. All the main stages of the mission will take a relatively short time, thanks to which the reentry vehicle can deliver samples of the lunar soil by the end of the year. The Chang'e-5 spacecraft will also set a kind of record. Previously, automatic stations brought from the moon no more than a few hundred grams of rock, while the Chinese program implies the delivery of 2 kg at once.
Placement of drilling equipment. Figure Spaceflight101.com
In early June, Chinese scientists named the landing area for the new station's modules. The lander will have to descend to Rumker Peak, located in the Ocean of Storms region. This section of the lunar surface is of volcanic origin and is relatively young. On-site studies and the study of the delivered samples will provide new information on the development of erosion processes, on the cooling of the rock and on their interaction.
For several years after the return of the Chang'e-5 module with a load of lunar soil on board, Chinese science and industry will analyze the experience of operating the automatic station and draw the necessary conclusions. In the future, the existing developments will be used to create a new similar complex, which, however, will have slightly different tasks. For obvious reasons, the development of the Chang'e-6 station will start no earlier than the completion of the November mission.
According to some reports, in the next project of the lunar program, China plans to carry out a soft landing of an automatic station, on board of which, in addition to its own stationary equipment, there will be a new type of lunar rover. The launch of such a complex is still planned for 2020, but it cannot be ruled out that the program schedule will be adjusted in one way or another.
The task of the next stage of the PRC's lunar program may be preparation for a manned flight to a natural satellite of the Earth. Probably, at first, Chinese specialists will carry out several test missions using automation and remote control, and only after that will they begin to develop a full-fledged manned spacecraft. For obvious reasons, the timing of such work is still unknown and is still not predictable. Apparently, the first work in this direction will start no earlier than the middle of the next decade. The first manned flight of Chinese astronauts to the moon, respectively, will occur even later.
Start of independent flight of the takeoff module. Figure Chinadaily.com.cn
To date, the Chinese lunar program has achieved some success. Several automatic stations for various purposes have already been sent to the Moon. They managed to make a soft landing and bring the lunar rover with research equipment to the surface. In just a few months, a station with equipment for soil research, as well as for collecting and sending it to Earth, will go to the target.
The projects of the "Chang'e" family were created by gradually working out various issues and improving the already finished equipment with its parallel change for current tasks and needs. Thanks to this, in about 7 years, it was possible to go a long way from flying around the moon to soft landing on its surface. It took almost three more years to prepare for the mission, with the return of the vehicle carrying the samples.
The new mission will start in a few months, and so far China has every reason to count on its successful completion. The return of the apparatus with samples of the regolith will show the correctness of the ideas underlying the newest project of the automatic lunar station, will help the further development of space technology, and, in addition, will provide new information about the natural satellite of the Earth. Whether within the framework of one project it will be possible to solve all the tasks set will become known in the near future.
