CHANG'E LUNAR EXPEDITIONS

CHANG'E-3, THE SPACECRAFT CARRYING CHINA'S ROVER TO THE MOON 1998 2004 Commission for Science. Technology and Industry for National Defense begins planning the lunar mission JANUARY - Lunar orbiter project is formally established FEBRUARY -Named "Project Chang'e", after a mythical Chinese goddess who flew to the moon 2007 OCT 24 Chang'e-l is successfully 2008 JAN 31 Commission for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense publishes the first picture of the lunar polar region taken by Chang'e-1 NOV 12 OCTOBER launched NOV 7 Chang'e l enters lunar orbit NOV 26 a clip of the voice of the probe and a Chinese song. "Ode to the The State Council, China's Cabinet, approves the Chang'e-2 mission Motherland", are sent back from orbit. China's first picture of the lunar surface is published The first lunar hologram is published 2009 MARCH 1- Chang'e-1 impacts the moon under a controlled crash 2010 OCT 29 - Chang'e-2 photographs the OCT 1 Chang'e-2 is sent into space aboard a Long March-3C carrier rocket from southwest China's Sinus Iridum area of the moon and returns to a higher orbit Xichang Satellite Launch Center Sinus Iridum OCT 9 Chang'e-2 enters 100-km circular lunar orbit OCT 26 Chang'e-2 enters lower, elliptical orbit; prepares to photograph Sinus Iridum 2011 APRIL 1 Chang'e-2 completes all six engineering objectives and four scientific missions Nov 8 ictures of Sinus Iridum published by the State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense APRIL-MAY Chang'e-2 surveys south and north poles of the moon, takes pictures of the chosen landing site for Chang'e-3 DEC 13 Chang'e-2 arrives in deep space 7 million km from Earth and surveys the Tout asteroid 2012 FEB 6 State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense publishes a lunar hologram with a resolution of 7 meters AUG 25 - For the first time a spacecraft enters the second Lagrange Point orbit from a lunar orbit, where the gravity of the sun and Earth balance the orbital motion of the satellite PRESENT Chang'e-2 is 60 million km from Earth and has become China's first man-made object in the solar system. It continues flying into deeper space 2013 CHANG'E 3 Chang'e 3 is China's lunar probe mission, incorporating a robotic lander and a rover called Yutu (Jade Rabbit). Tasks for Yutu include surveying the moon's geological structure and surface substances, while looking for natural resources. Chang'e-3 blasted into space on schedule at 1:30 am on Dec 2 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province and is scheduled to touch down on the moon on Dec 14 in the Sinus Iridum, the Bay of Rainbows. Sinus Iridum Source China Daily GUILLERMO MUNRO / CHINA DAILY "SUCCESFUL SOFT LANDING' It hovered at 100 meters from the lunar surface and used sensors to assess the landing area to avoid obstacles and locate the final landing spot, and descended slowly to the surface. Chang'e-3, China's lunar probe, descended from its 100 km-high lunar circular orbit to an elliptical orbit, with its nearest point about 15 At 15 km from the moon, the probe began to decelerate in preparation for landing. km from the moon's surface on Dec The lunar probe began its soft-landing on the moon at 9 pm on Dec 14 and touched down 10, Beijing time. in Sinus Iridum, the Bay of Rainbows, at 9:11 pm. After a slow descent, the lunar module made a soft landing. Yutu will survey the moon's geological structure and surface substances, and look for natural resources for three months. The lander will conduct an on-site exploration at the landing site for one year. Yutu and the lander took photos of each other on Dec 15. Source: State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence GUILLERMO MUNRO / CHINA DAILY