what next for CE-2?according to the Google translation of this interview (in Chinese) http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2011-09...c_122063243.htm it will remain at L2 until the end of next year. Then, depending on the remaining fuel it may fly to the Sun-Earth L1 point, flyby a near Earth asteroid or comet, or return to the Moon
Quote from: Ben the Space Brit on 03/16/2012 07:13 pmI just saw in the news the discovery of a new Earth-Grazing NEO in the Tunguska-class (~50m diameter).Link to Article.....Thoughts and comments?"The Chang'e-2 is now on an extensive exploration mission some 1.5 million km from Earth. Ye said it is in good condition and scientists are planning its next stage."'It could fly toward the Earth to test returning orbit for future spacecraft or travel farther to explore an asteroid, he said." From: Mission to bring back lunar soil By Xin Dingding (China Daily) At: http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2012-03/16/content_14845488.htmWould it be feasible and worthwhile for Chang'e-2 to do a close high speed flyby reconnaissance mission to 2012 DA14? Is it feasible and worthwhile to use any other robotic spacecraft to do such a close high speed flyby reconnaissance mission? Cheers!
I just saw in the news the discovery of a new Earth-Grazing NEO in the Tunguska-class (~50m diameter).Link to Article.....Thoughts and comments?
GREAT NEWS IF TRUE!!! thanks for diggin it out...here I am hoping they got confused with NEO (4179) Toutatis! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4179_ToutatisI have been waiting to see Toutatis up close ever since radar images were released 20 years ago!
Well this is surprising..... CE-2 has already left the SE-L2 point in April to make a fly-by of an asteroid in January 2013! (initial reports points to asteroid 3179 Beruti, but I don't think that's possible, given that it's well into the asteroid belt)Source Edit: apparently the survey target is actually 4179 Toutatis. The original source was from a China Academy of Science meeting this morning, where lunar scientist Ouyang Ziyuan made a report on the future of China's plan for solar system exploration. He also mentioned a possible mission to the infamous 99942 Apophis in around 2020.
Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 06/14/2012 06:30 amWell this is surprising..... CE-2 has already left the SE-L2 point in April to make a fly-by of an asteroid in January 2013! (initial reports points to asteroid 3179 Beruti, but I don't think that's possible, given that it's well into the asteroid belt)Source Edit: apparently the survey target is actually 4179 Toutatis. The original source was from a China Academy of Science meeting this morning, where lunar scientist Ouyang Ziyuan made a report on the future of China's plan for solar system exploration. He also mentioned a possible mission to the infamous 99942 Apophis in around 2020.A video of the meeting can be found here: http://www.cas.cn/zt/hyzt/16thysdh/zb/It shows that CE-2 has left the SEL2 point on April 15, and has set up a trajectory towards Toutatis. The fly-by is scheduled on January 6, 2013.