A week ago China launched Chang'e 3. Chang'e is named for a moon goddess in Chinese folklore. The first two Chang'e missions were lunar orbiters, but this one is a lander which has a lunar rover called Yutu, meaning jade rabbit. The rabbit lived on the Moon with Chang'e.
Chang'e 3 is in lunar orbit. The Yutu rover's landing site is to be in Sinus Iridum. Sinus Iridum means Bay of Rainbows, though it's an impact crater rather than a bay. Expected landing date: 14th of December.
Last edited by Mona - Astronomy; 12/19/1308:26 AM.
Today's the big day! Chang'e has gone into a lower orbit. The lander and Yutu are prepared for a soft landing on the Moon. The last soft landing on the Moon was in August 1976 when the Soviet probe Luna-24 landed in the Mare Crisium. It then successfully returned samples of Moon soil to Earth.
Oh so humbling - that first post of this series showing the launch of Chang'e is enough to make a person cry at the wonder of it all and the continuous ingenuity of mankind.
What a fantastic set of posts and so interesting even if way out of my field. Thank you so much for introducing me to it all ... Cheers now
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