Here's the latest artwork of Chang'e 5 that I got from this presentation. It seems to be missing the support structure for the ascent stage. You can see the antenna on the orbital module. I'm not sure what the purple things on the sides are. Perhaps Helium pressurisation tanks. The ascent stage looks like it has solar panels on top. Launch is still scheduled for 2017.http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/pdf/pres/copuos2014/tech-06.pdf
Am I the only one who thinks that the descent module is way oversized for a 2Kg sample? It seems the be bigger than the entire ascent module and looks like an exact scaled replica of the Shenzhou descent module.I was expecting it to be about the size of the Stardust reentry capsule. A smaller capsule would allow a much simpler direct ascent mission profile.The only reason I can think of for using such a big capsule, is to test the heatshield and reentry parameters for future manned lunar missions. That would also explain the LOR mission profile. Could there be any other reason?
Chang’e 4 is being carried on deepen argument and proposed technical improvements to develop lunar or other aster [sic] exploration now.
in particular:QuoteChang’e 4 is being carried on deepen argument and proposed technical improvements to develop lunar or other aster [sic] exploration now.
Aster may mean asteroid, following the Chang'E 2 Toutatis flyby. A dedicated NEA mission, conceivably even a lander, would be a great mission.
From China Daily: China set to launch fifth lunar probe in 2017.
The Chinese Chang’e 5 (CE-5) lunar sample return mission is scheduled to launch in 2017 to bring back surface regolith and drill samples from the northeastern Oceanus Procellarum region on the Moon. The Lunar Mineralogical Spectrometer (LMS) on the CE-5 lander is a VIS/IR imaging spectrometer (0.48 μm -3.2 μm) designed to analyze the mineralogical composition of the sample return site. LMS employs acousto-optic tunable filters (AOTFs) and is composed of a VIS/NIR module (0.48 μm -1.450 μm) and an IR module (1.4 μm -3.2 μm). It has spectral resolution in the range of 5-25 nm, with a field of view (FOV) of 3°×3°. An aluminum plate and an Infragold plate are used as calibration targets in the VIS/NIR and IR spectral range, respectively. Before launch, a ground verification test of LMS needs to be conducted in order to: [...]
Quote from: Satori on 03/06/2015 06:37 pmFrom China Daily: China set to launch fifth lunar probe in 2017."As the backup probe of Chang'e 3, Chang'e 4 will be adapted to verify technologies for Chang'e 5, according to Xinhua."That implies that CE-4 will indeed launch. But what will it carry?I could see a rather straightforward path--take off the astronomy payload and include a basic sample arm or drill or something related to the CE-5 sample collection system. Include a second rover.(I'll admit that this is my own bias--it's what I think is logical and what I'd like to see them do.)
Does this imply that it will fly first? Or is it just being used as a terrestrial testbed prior to its own flight later?