But from the Chinese version of the report, the launch will be in 2018. http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=4587&pid=277038&fromuid=24484
Quote from: beidou on 12/06/2013 08:12 pmBut from the Chinese version of the report, the launch will be in 2018. http://bbs.9ifly.cn/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=4587&pid=277038&fromuid=24484 I think they've been talking about sample return for 2017 for many years now. That has led to confusion with people assuming that they meant a manned landing by 2017. Bad translations and wishful thinking.
I would love to know the rationale behind the Chinese deciding to launch the ascent stage from the lunar surface into selenocentric orbit, do lunar-orbit rendezvous and then return to Earth, rather than the simpler Soviet approach of a direct return from the lunar surface.
Quote from: Phillip Clark on 12/14/2013 07:25 amI would love to know the rationale behind the Chinese deciding to launch the ascent stage from the lunar surface into selenocentric orbit, do lunar-orbit rendezvous and then return to Earth, rather than the simpler Soviet approach of a direct return from the lunar surface.Probably to demonstrate LOR for a future sample return or crewed mission.
Quote from: darkbluenine on 12/14/2013 01:42 pmQuote from: Phillip Clark on 12/14/2013 07:25 amI would love to know the rationale behind the Chinese deciding to launch the ascent stage from the lunar surface into selenocentric orbit, do lunar-orbit rendezvous and then return to Earth, rather than the simpler Soviet approach of a direct return from the lunar surface.Probably to demonstrate LOR for a future sample return or crewed mission.Sven Grahn on Facebook made the same suggestion about a crewed mission, but it still seems to over-complicate what is already a complicated mission profile for an automatic spacecraft. Especially since the Chinese have yet to commit to a manned lunar programme, never mind the flight profile.
Quote from: Phillip Clark on 12/14/2013 03:16 pmQuote from: darkbluenine on 12/14/2013 01:42 pmQuote from: Phillip Clark on 12/14/2013 07:25 amI would love to know the rationale behind the Chinese deciding to launch the ascent stage from the lunar surface into selenocentric orbit, do lunar-orbit rendezvous and then return to Earth, rather than the simpler Soviet approach of a direct return from the lunar surface.Probably to demonstrate LOR for a future sample return or crewed mission.Sven Grahn on Facebook made the same suggestion about a crewed mission, but it still seems to over-complicate what is already a complicated mission profile for an automatic spacecraft. Especially since the Chinese have yet to commit to a manned lunar programme, never mind the flight profile.Will this help with Mars sample return?
Good article from Aviation Week. http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/awx_12_16_2013_p0-647298.xml