At 1957 29th June 2024 Beijing time CNSA –China National Space Administration, successfully launched by the Long March 7A Yao-8 carrier rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan Province, China, People’s Republic of China
At 19:57 Beijing Time- Hong Kong SAR Time on June 29th , 2024, at the 201 workstation of the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan, China, the Long March 7A Yao-8 carrier rocket carrying the ChinaSat 3A communications satellite was ignited and launched, sending the satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO).
The payload of this mission, the large high-orbit communications satellite ChinaSat-3A, was developed by the Communications and Navigation Department of the 5th Academy of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation and is used to provide voice, data, and radio and television transmission services…
The Long March 7A (Long March 7 Modified / Long March 7A) was developed by the First Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. It is a medium-sized three-stage semi-cryogenic liquid carrier rocket, mainly used to carry out medium and high earth orbit launch missions. The maximum height of the rocket is 60.7 meters (with a 3.7-meter diameter fairing), the booster diameter is 2.25 meters, the core first and second stages have a diameter of 3.35 meters, the core third stage has a diameter of 3 meters, the takeoff mass is about 573 tons, the takeoff thrust is 727 tons, and its geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) capacity is not less than 7 tons. Since the Long March 7A Yao II (the second launch), the rocket has achieved 6 consecutive victories.
This rocket uses a newly developed satellite bracket to further increase the available longitudinal envelope space of the fairing and improve the mission adaptability of the rocket; optimize the design to improve the accuracy and anti-interference capability of the inertial group; implement reliability growth measures to improve the flight reliability of the rocket; and further streamline the launch site process. This rocket uses a 4.2-meter diameter fairing and the entire rocket is 60.13 meters high.
This launch is the first launch of the Long March 7A carrier rocket in 2024, the fifth launch at the Wenchang Launch Center, the 30th launch in China and the 124th launch in the world. At the same time, this launch is the seventh launch of the new generation of Long March series carrier rockets this year and the 15th launch of the Long March 7 series carrier rockets.
At 17:27 on May 3rd Friday 2024 Beijing time CNSA –China National Space Administration, the Chang’e-6 probe was successfully launched by the Long March 5 Yao-8 carrier rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan Province, China, People’s Republic of China., and accurately entered the Earth-moon transfer orbit. The launch mission was a complete success. The Chang’e-6 probe has embarked on the world’s first return journey for sampling from the far side of the moon. The pre-selected landing and sampling area is the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon.
[Chang’e-6 successfully landed in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon] According to the National Space Administration, at 06:23:15:861
Beijing time today, the Chang’e-6 lander and ascender combination, supported by the Queqiao-2 relay satellite, successfully landed in the pre-selected landing area of the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon. At 6:09 on June 2, the Chang’e-6 lander and ascender combination began to implement power descent, and the 7500 Newton variable thrust main engine was turned on. During this period, the combination made rapid attitude adjustments and gradually approached the lunar surface. After that, obstacles were automatically detected through the visual autonomous obstacle avoidance system, and a visible light camera was used to select a rough safe point based on the brightness of the lunar surface. It hovered 100 meters above the safe point, and laser three-dimensional scanning was used to take precise photos to detect obstacles on the lunar surface. Finally, the landing point was selected and a slow vertical descent began. When it was about to reach the lunar surface, the engine was shut down, and the buffer system was used to ensure that the combination reached the lunar surface in a free fall manner, and finally landed smoothly in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon.
According to the China Academy of Space Technology, Chang’e-6 is one of the most complex spacecraft systems developed by China so far. The propulsion subsystem developed by the Sixth Academy provides it with the orbiter propulsion subsystem, lander propulsion subsystem and ascender propulsion subsystem. They are composed of 3 orbit control engines, 74 attitude control engines and more than 200 supporting single units such as tanks, gas cylinders, valves, circuit boxes, pressure sensors, etc. Among them, 1 7500N variable thrust engine is used for a smooth soft landing on the moon, and 2 3000N engines are used for the probe’s near-moon braking “in-orbit braking” and lunar takeoff. With their help, the Chang’e-6 probe can complete a series of “difficult actions” in space on its own .
The payload carried by the Chang’e-6 lander will work as planned and carry out scientific exploration missions. The international payloads of the Chang’e-6 mission, the European Space Agency’s lunar surface negative ion analyzer and the French lunar radon detector, are about to start working, and the Italian laser corner reflector has been deployed.
Since the Chang’e-6 probe was launched into orbit on May 3, 2024, it has successively experienced the processes of earth-moon transfer, near-moon braking, circumlunar flight, landing and descent. The Chang’e-6 probe consists of an orbiter, a returner, a lander and an ascender. On May 30, the lander and ascender combination and the orbiter and returner combination were separated in orbit. After the lander and ascender combination lands successfully, the lander will conduct status checks and settings such as the deployment of solar panels and directional antennas under ground control via the Queqiao-2 relay satellite, and then officially begin sampling work on the far side of the moon, which will last about two days. The lunar soil samples and lunar surface rocks will be collected by drilling with a drill and by using a robotic arm to achieve multi-point and diversified automatic sampling. At the same time, scientific explorations such as on-site investigation and analysis of the landing area on the far side of the moon and analysis of the lunar soil structure will be carried out to deepen the research on the origin and evolution history of the moon.
At 17:27 on May 3rd Friday 2024 Beijing time CNSA –China National Space Administration, the Chang’e-6 probe was successfully launched by the Long March 5 Yao-8 carrier rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan Province, China, People’s Republic of China., and accurately entered the Earth-moon transfer orbit. The launch mission was a complete success. The Chang’e-6 probe has embarked on the world’s first return journey for sampling from the far side of the moon. The pre-selected landing and sampling area is the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon.
About 37 minutes after the Long March 5 Yao-8 carrier rocket flew, the rocket separated, sending the Chang’e-6 probe directly into the predetermined Earth-moon transfer orbit with a perigee altitude of 200 kilometers and an apogee altitude of about 380,000 kilometers. The Chang’e-6 probe consists of an orbiter, returner, lander, and ascender. Subsequently, with the support of ground measurement and control and the Queqiao-2 relay satellite, the Chang’e-6 probe will undergo processes such as earth-moon transfer, near-moon braking, orbiting the moon, landing and descent, and soft landing on the lunar surface, and finally reach a pre-selected area on the far side of the moon. Collect lunar surface rock and soil samples, and conduct scientific exploration at the same time. After completing the sampling and packaging, the ascender will take off from the lunar surface, then carry out lunar orbit rendezvous and docking and transfer the samples to the returner; the returner will undergo processes such as moon-to-earth transfer, approaching the second cosmic speed and re-entering the earth, and finally carry precious Lunar samples returned to Earth.
During the filming break, an aerospace worker told me that once she went to the Xichang launch base to visit an old leader. When the satellite was being transferred from the factory to the rocket assembly, she saw the chief engineer of the satellite kissing the satellite deeply and running after him. Follow the satellite and take pictures all the way. I burst into tears at that time… The launch of each satellite is like a child bidding farewell to his homeland, embarking on a journey alone with no return, bidding farewell to Mother Earth, and rushing to the unknown and vast universe!
At that moment, I realized how affectionate, tender, sentimental, and heroic this undertaking is, like the sky, like the ocean, like the storm, like the boiling rain of time… Chang’e-6 was successfully launched! Move forward with a heavy load and pay tribute to China Aerospace!
朱洁静Zhu Jiejing, born on October 3, 1985 in Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province, is a classical dancer in Mainland China. She graduated from Shanghai Dance School and Shanghai Theater Academy .
In 2001, she joined the Oriental Youth Dance Company and officially became a dancer . In 2002, she won the 3rd Chinese Dance “Lotus Award” Performance Gold Award and the Contemporary Dance Outstanding Performance Award for his dance “The Carving of Roots” . In 2004, the dance drama “Farewell My Concubine” performed won the gold medal for dance drama at the 4th Chinese Dance “Lotus Award”. In 2007, he won the “Audience’s Favorite Actor Award” at the 8th China Art Festival . In 2008,she was awarded the title of Principal Actor by the Shanghai Song and Dance Troupe ; In the same year, he was rated as a national first-class actor. Since 2009, she has won the Chinese Dance “Lotus Award” performance gold medal for three consecutive times. In 2012, the dance poem ” Red Clouds in the Sky ” starring in the lead role won the 12th “Five One Project” Award for Spiritual Civilization Construction. In 2014, she was awarded the honorary title of “National Model of Artistic Ethics” . In 2015, she was awarded the title of “Advanced Worker in the National Cultural System”.
[大中国 ….Only this Chang’e! Take you to the moon romantically in 3 minutes]
On May 3, the Chang’e-6 probe began the world’s first sample return trip to the far side of the moon. The entire flight process lasted about 53 days, including the launch into orbit section, the Earth-moon transfer section, and the near-lunar system. It consists of 11 flight stages including the moving section. The road to chasing the moon never stops. The successful launch of Chang’e-6 will not only promote the development of our country’s lunar exploration project, but also promote the development of human space exploration. Click on the video to experience the romantic flight to the moon in the eyes of Takionauts.
风 brave strive to be the first to be more brilliant
At 17:27 on May 3rd Friday 2024 Beijing time CNSA –China National Space Administration, the Chang’e-6 probe was successfully launched by the Long March 5 Yao-8 carrier rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan Province, China, People’s Republic of China., and accurately entered the Earth-moon transfer orbit. The launch mission was a complete success. The Chang’e-6 probe has embarked on the world’s first return journey for sampling from the far side of the moon. The pre-selected landing and sampling area is the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon.
About 37 minutes after the Long March 5 Yao-8 carrier rocket flew, the rocket separated, sending the Chang’e-6 probe directly into the predetermined Earth-moon transfer orbit with a perigee altitude of 200 kilometers and an apogee altitude of about 380,000 kilometers. The Chang’e-6 probe consists of an orbiter, returner, lander, and ascender. Subsequently, with the support of ground measurement and control and the Queqiao-2 relay satellite, the Chang’e-6 probe will undergo processes such as earth-moon transfer, near-moon braking, orbiting the moon, landing and descent, and soft landing on the lunar surface, and finally reach a pre-selected area on the far side of the moon. Collect lunar surface rock and soil samples, and conduct scientific exploration at the same time. After completing the sampling and packaging, the ascender will take off from the lunar surface, then carry out lunar orbit rendezvous and docking and transfer the samples to the returner; the returner will undergo processes such as moon-to-earth transfer, approaching the second cosmic speed and re-entering the earth, and finally carry precious Lunar samples returned to Earth.
According to reports, the entire process from launch to sample return of the Chang’e-6 mission takes about 53 days. The mission cycle is long, there are many engineering innovations, high risks and difficulties, and each stage is interlocked. Compared with the Chang’e-5 mission that achieved sample return from the front side of the moon in 2020, the Chang’e-6 mission needs to implement the first sample return from the far side of the moon with the support of the Queqiao-2 relay star, breaking through the lunar retrograde orbit design and control, and intelligent and rapid lunar backside Key technologies such as sampling and lunar take-off and ascent. At the same time, the Chang’e-6 mission will carry out scientific explorations such as on-site investigation and analysis of the landing area on the back of the moon, laboratory analysis and research of lunar samples, and deepen the study of the formation and evolution history of the moon.
In addition, the Chang’e-6 mission has carried out pragmatic international cooperation. In April 2019, the National Space Administration released the “Announcement on International Payload Cooperation Opportunities for the Chang’e-6 Mission”. Through the collection and selection of proposals for two batches of international payload carrying projects, the ESA lunar surface negative ion analyzer, There are four international carrying projects including the French Lunar Radon Detector, the Italian Laser Corner Reflector, and the Pakistani CubeSat. Among them, the ESA Lunar Surface Negative Ion Analyzer will detect negative ions on the lunar surface and study the interaction mechanism between plasma and the lunar surface; the French Lunar Radon Detector aims to conduct in-situ detection of radon isotopes on the lunar surface and study volatilization The transmission and diffusion mechanism of objects in the lunar environment; the Italian laser corner reflector plans to use the positioning on the back of the moon to carry out joint ranging and positioning research with other lunar exploration missions; the Pakistani CubeSat will carry out an on-orbit imaging mission to verify the NanoSatelllites moon Orbit detection technology.
On May 3, the CNSA- China National Space Administration held a Chang’e-6 international payload seminar in Haikou. About 50 international friends from 12 national space agencies, embassies in China, including Pakistan, France, and Italy, as well as international organizations such as the United Nations and ESA, gathered in Hainan to discuss cooperation and witness the launch of the Chang’e-6 mission.
The Long March 5 launch vehicle is my country’s first new-generation high-thrust launch vehicle with a core diameter of 5 meters. It has a total length of about 57 meters, a take-off weight of about 870 tons, a take-off thrust of more than 1,000 tons, and a low-Earth orbit carrying capacity of up to 25 tons. The geosynchronous orbit has a carrying capacity of up to 14 tons and completed its first flight in 2016. Due to the constant changes in the relative position of the Earth and the Moon, in order to ensure that the rocket is launched on time, the model team applied the “narrow window multi-orbit” launch technology and designed a total of 10 lunar orbits for the rocket within a 50-minute window for two consecutive days. Improve implementation launch probability and reliability. At the same time, the development team continued to optimize the launch site process, reducing the time it took to launch Chang’e-5 from nearly 60 days to 43 days. This is the 519th launch of the Long March series of launch vehicles.
The lunar exploration project is organized and implemented under the leadership of the National Space Administration. For this Chang’e-6 mission, the overall project was undertaken by the Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center of the National Space Administration; the detector and launch vehicle were developed by the Space Technology Research Institute and Launch Vehicle Technology Research Institute of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation respectively; the launch The measurement, control and recovery work is jointly completed by China Wenchang Space Launch Site, Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center, Xi’an Satellite Measurement and Control Center, Yuanwang Survey Ship, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and other units; the ground application system is mainly undertaken by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
On the 15 March 2024 Hour Hong- Kong SAR – Beijing time CNSA –China National Space Administration ….. the “Chang Zheng -Long March 5” Yao-8 carrier rocket which will carry out the Chang’e-6 mission of the fourth phase of the lunar exploration project, safely arrived at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in China. Subsequently, the rocket will be assembled and tested at the launch site together with the Chang’e-6 probe that arrived in advance. Currently, all participating systems in the launch site area are preparing for the Chang’e-6 mission as planned…..
“Chang Zheng -Long March 5” Yao-8 carrier rocket which will carry out the fourth phase of the lunar exploration project嫦娥六号was safely transported to the Wenchang Space Launch Site in China. Subsequently, the rocket will be assembled and tested at the launch site together with the Chang’e-6 probe that arrived in advance. Currently, all participating systems in the launch site area….
[Chang’e-6 completed the last inter-system full-area joint training before launch and plans to launch on May 3]
News from the National Space Administration, the Chang’e-6 lunar exploration mission organized a pre-launch full-area joint training on the morning of May 1 During the training, the Wenchang Space Launch Site, Beijing Flight Control Center, Xi’an Satellite Measurement and Control Center, Yuanwang measurement fleet and various measurement and control stations of the mission have implemented joint debugging and joint control. Currently, all systems have completed pre-launch preparations. After comprehensive research and decision-making by the Engineering Mission Command, the Chang’e-6 mission of the fourth phase of the lunar exploration project is scheduled to be launched on May 3.
During the joint training, each system participating in the test was tightly organized and cooperated closely to ensure that all procedures were carried out in an orderly manner. Since this mission lasted a long time and the various mission nodes were closely connected, the Wenchang Space Launch Site conducted a lot of detailed and thoughtful work in the mission preparation stage.
This is the last inter-system-wide joint training before the launch of Chang’e-6. It mainly tests various tasks during the launch phase of the Long March-5 carrier rocket and Chang’e-6 rocket assembly into orbit.
At present, at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in China, preparations for the mission are progressing steadily, and the Long March 5 Yao-8 launch vehicle for this launch is about to be filled with propellant. This is the second launch mission of the Long March 5 carrier rocket for lunar exploration. It will transport the Chang’e-6 probe to the Earth-Moon Transfer Orbit to implement a sample return mission from the far side of the moon.
The launch window refers to the time frame suitable for rocket launch. For this mission, based on comprehensive consideration of factors such as the position of the Earth and the Moon, the engineering team applied the “narrow window multi-orbit” launch technology to design a total of 10 lunar orbits for the rocket within a 50-minute window for two consecutive days.
