A Long March 3A rocket sent the Chang'e-1 probe on its 239,000 mile journey to the moon, another step in China's attempt to send robotic explorers to the moon by 2020.  China has four primary mission goals for the vehicle.  The first will be to a comprehensive 3D model of the moon and its various surface formations, including some rarely photographed polar regions.  The second is to measure 14 specific chemicals and their concentrations in the lunar atmosphere.  Third will be to measure the thickness of the soil all around the surface. And finally, it will put on its meterologist hat and explore the "space weather" between the Earth and the Moon.



The European Space Agency (ESA) is cooperating with the Chinese National Space Agency (CNSA) on this endeavor.  The Chang'e-1 craft itself is named after the Chinese goddss of the Moon.  The space vehicle is quite large, weighing over 2.5 tons.  It will operate in a low, circular orbit just 124 miles above the surface.  The craft is expected to take a full year to carry out all of its measurements.  It carries on board several delicate instruments to carry out its mission.  These include a CCD stereo camera, laser altimeter, imaging interferometer, gamma-ray/X-ray spectrometer, microwave radiometer, high-energy particle detector, and a solar wind particle detector.

Read more at the ESA website.

Regolith not soil

Oct 24, 2007 13:15     

Unless there's something the author know something about the composition moon that everyone else doesn't that should be regolith not soil. Soil has a biological component and the moon posses none. [Regardless of name, it's the stuff you'd walk on if you were there. The original article called it "lunar soil". -Rick]
Dion Barrier report abuse vote down vote up Votes: -1

When will the U.S. start their 5-year mission.

Oct 24, 2007 13:17     

To explore strange new worlds. Good for China. I don't think China and the rest of the world will stand still. Does the US want to stay in the lead or it just costs too much?
enewmen report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Um... Earth to Mr. Rick C. Hodgin

Oct 24, 2007 13:26     

"China has four primary mission goals for the vehicle... The second is to measure 14 specific chemicals and their concentrations in the lunar atmosphere." Since when does the Moon have an atmosphere? [I think science would tell you it's had an atmosphere for a few hundred million years. It is admittedly thin, but it's there, made up mostly of captured and outgassed materials from the heat of the sun. -Rick]

RockHop report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

The moon's atmosphere?

Oct 24, 2007 13:37     

Actually, the original article says "analyze the abundance of up to 14 chemical elements and their distribution across the lunar SURFACE". Although the moon does have an atmosphere its escape velocity is so low that its atmosphere is negligible at best.
Johan report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

There is "space" atmosphere.

Oct 24, 2007 13:44     

Space is full of stuff. I'm not a astronomer, but the solar winds, rays, and debris is all made of something.
enewmen report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

smartypants

Oct 24, 2007 13:58     

whats with all the comments toward the author, somebody is always trying to look smarter then average joe
vedhead report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

Re: smartypants

Oct 24, 2007 15:09     

True. The article is informative and it brought the common misconception that the moon doesn't have an atmosphere to light in the discussion. Regarding my comment about the original article referring to the moon's surface and not atmosphere - it is not intended to flame the author but simply to correct a mistake.
Johan report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0

RE: smartypants

Oct 24, 2007 20:52     

The Internet may be one's last chance to be "cool." Speaking of which, wanna see some pictures of my new Ferrari? ;p
Tom report abuse vote down vote up Votes: +0