The launch will be broadcast by CNTV/CCTV
The TLEs provided in the 4M document (above) do NOT appear to be based on a launch at 23/1800Z October 2014 (unless there is a missing 3+-hour parking orbit). Does anyone know what reference launch date and time these TLEs ARE referenced to? The perigee of the initial translunar orbit is almost 4 hours after launch, and I'm thinking it should be about 10 to 20 minutes after launch....
The Chinese finally officially acknowledges today that this little spacecraft is flying tomorrow (early Friday local time).....
Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 10/22/2014 05:14 amThe Chinese finally officially acknowledges today that this little spacecraft is flying tomorrow (early Friday local time)..... will we finally see what a mini Shenzhou-on-a-Chang'e-bus looks like?and of course, it would be nice to know what happens to the bus after releasing that capsule...
That's funny. I got a different video on that link. I've brightened some of the images above and attached screen captures of the video I got, as well as the video itself. It looks like the spacecraft will be doing a burn around the Moon. I'm not sure if this is to go into orbit and back out again, or to speed up the return journey, like Apollo 13.
Quote from: Steven Pietrobon on 10/22/2014 09:55 amThat's funny. I got a different video on that link. I've brightened some of the images above and attached screen captures of the video I got, as well as the video itself. It looks like the spacecraft will be doing a burn around the Moon. I'm not sure if this is to go into orbit and back out again, or to speed up the return journey, like Apollo 13.The video you attached shows what I think is a lander (it has landing legs) performing a descent burn. It looks quite different from the satellite bus in the still images. It may be that the video is a simulation for the Chang'e 5 lander.
Close. It is Chang'e 3. BTW the official statement today explicitly mentions that the return capsule will make a skip re-entry prior to landing in central Inner Mongolia.
and another video. it shows the bus maneuvering out of collision course with Earth (at 1:22). the question remains: will it be reused somehow?
Quote from: plutogno on 10/22/2014 05:35 pmand another video. it shows the bus maneuvering out of collision course with Earth (at 1:22). the question remains: will it be reused somehow?Yes, seems to be the case. burn could be enough to return to the moon as it seems have some camera instuments onboard. since I dont speak or read Chinese language someone would need to check the documents/people for us.