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Chang'e Lunar Missions

A lunar exploration project was officially started in January 2004, and as of the end of 2004 a lunar orbiting exploration was scheduled to be carried out by the end of 2007. This project also foresees landing a remote control vehicle on the Moon by 2010, and taking lunar mineral samples by 2020. These science and technology missions serve as precursor missions for future human exploration of the Moon. Preliminary research on a "giant leap" to the moon has been included in the government's plans for the next five years, according to a white paper issued on 30 Decemberf 2011. The white paper, China's Space Activities in 2011, said that research on a heavy-thrust carrier rocket - vital for launching manned spacecraft to the moon - will be carried out in the next five years. However, Zhang Wei, spokesman for the China National Space Administration, said that there is no timetable for a manned moon landing.

The Chang'e Program is named after the Chinese legend about a young fairy who flies to the moon. The White Paper on China's Space Activities, issued by Chinese government on November 11, 2000, initially set the goal for moon exploration and clearly planned to carry out preliminary deep space research.

The July 24, 2001 edition of the Chinese aerospace magazine Hangkong Zhishi provided new details of China's lunar programs, including a four-step long term plan. The first step is a flyby or orbiting mission before 2005, possibly using the DFH-3 bus. The second step is a soft-landing mission before 2010. The third and the fourth step, from 2010 to 2020 and from 2020 to 2030, are robotic explorations focusing on rover and sample return missions. After 2030, it said China plans to establish a lunar base and make manned flights.

From February 28 to March 1, 2003, China National Space Administration (CNSA), held the 2003 Civil Space Conference and the Preparatory Conference of the Exploration of the Moon. The year of 2003 is the first year to implement the essence of the 16th National Congress of the CPC and the important year to carry out the eleventh Five-Year Plan. On the basis of enhancing supervision and check of implemented projects and under the support from all directions, we should continue to make our efforts to realize the development aims of the latter part of the tenth Five-Year Plan and those of the eleventh Five-Year Plan: realize the aim in first phase of the Chang'e Exploration of the Moon.

Chinese leaders at all levels and various government departments paid great attention to Chang’e Program in the process of its approval and development. Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council approved Chang’e Program in early 2004 and paid close attention to its progress. He made many specific and clear instructions for the Program. At the beginning of preparations for the Program, then Premier Zhu Rongji made clear instructions, and Li Jinai, member of the Central Military Commission and then Director of PLA General Equipment Department, wrote an inscription for the Program: “Develop lunar exploration and make brilliant achievements in space once again.”

Liu Jibin, the former Minister of Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (COSTIND), gave an instruction to establish a leading group for program preparations for government approval. Zhang Yunchuan, Minister of COSTIND and the Head of Leading Group for China’s Lunar Orbiter Project, has made great efforts to establishing program management system and strengthening technical tackling, technical management and quality control for the Program. Through close cooperation, various departments responsible for the concrete projects of the Program such as PLA General Equipment Department, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), have made great contributions to Chang’e Program.

As of October 2003 China's first lunar exploration program, the Project Chang'e, was going smoothly since the kick-off on March 1, 2003. Chinese space officials announced that progress on some key technologies have been made, and preliminary design of the spacecraft has started. The planned Chang'e probe will be based on the DFH-3 bus and was to be launched by a CZ-3A from Xichang around 2005.

Chang'e 1 was launched from Xichand on October 24, 2007 and entered lunar orbit on November 5, 2007 for a one year planned mission. The Long-March 2-F rocket, used to launch the Shenzhou spacecraft, is capable of fulfilling the mission for a lunar probe provided that it is installed with an additional stage.

The lunar probe program consists of three stages, including orbiting, landing and returning from the moon with lunar soil and rock samples. This would culminate in 20 years with the shipment of a robot to the surface of the Moon. China is measuring its lunar program in decades instead of years. Between the data to emphasize the confirmation of year 2005 as the one of the launching of the first sounding that will orbit the Moon. China will finish the first phase of Chang'e program by 2010, and then move to make a smooth landing in the 2010 and one mission of return of samples for the 2020.

Three Phased Un-crewed Lunar Precursors

"Orbiting, Landing & Returning"

1. The first step is the “orbiting.” It means launching China’s first lunar probe satellite and reaching the aerospace technical level of approaching an exo-planet. During this step, the lunar probe satellite will orbit the moon, and with its remote sensing measures, it will obtain three-dimensional pictures and videos of the lunar surface, detect the amounts and varieties of useful elements on the lunar surface, probe the qualities of the lunar soil, and also explore the space environment between the earth and moon while flying to the moon. The Chang’e-1 satellite, China’s first lunar probe satellite, was launched on Oct. 24, 2007.
2. The second step, implemented between 2007 and 2010, is the “landing.” This means launching the lunar soft-lander and reaching the technical level of landing on an exo-planet. The soft-lander with a lunar rover will soft-land on the surface of the moon and automatically carry out surveys to detect the topography, landforms and geologic structure of the landing area, as well as the chemical and mineral compositions of lunar rocks and the surface environment of the moon. The lunar rover will take lunar rock samples and analyze them on the spot. The astro-space environment among the sun, earth and moon will be monitored and the moon-based astronomical observation will be carried out. The specific method is using the lunar rover and robot that have safely landed on the moon to detect the rocks and minerals of the landing area, check the thermal currents and surrounding environment of the area, take high-definition pictures and videos, and take samples of lunar rocks and analyze them on the spot. This way, chemical and physical parameters of the lunar surface can be provided for the site selection of the future moon base.
3. The third step, which will be implemented between 2011 and 2020, is “returning.” This means launching the lunar soft-lander off the moon and reaching the technical level of sending a spaceship back to the earth from an exo-planet. During this step, the soft-lander with the samples will be sent to the earth, and the samples will be studied and researched on the earth so that people’s knowledge regarding the origins and development of the earth-moon system can be deepened. The main goal of this step is carrying out lunar surface surveys and sending back the samples. After the three steps of “orbiting,” “landing,” and “returning” are all completed, China’s unmanned lunar probe technology will become much more sophisticated, and it will not take too long for China to land people on the moon.

All of these programs started during the five year plan 1-2006 through 1-2011 but were projected out two five year plans ahead with program completion maturity in the middle years of the five year plans.

Over 40 years ago, a US lunar probe first landed on moon. Doubts have been expressed that China’s lunar exploration is doing no more than following suit. Ouyang Ziyuan, academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences and the first chief scientist of the Chang’e project, says that our lunar exploration is not a simple repetition, but a test of new space technology.

He explains that the exploration conducted by the US and other countries has mainly been centered on the equator area, and seldom in the high latitude areas. Chang’e-3 has been directed to the Sinus Iridum, which has never before been explored - a blank page in lunar research. In addition, China will carry out research that has not been done before, such as measuring the thickness of the surface layer of soil on the moon with instruments far more sensitive than those that were available in the 1970s.

According to Lin Yangting, researcher of the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Science, China’s deep space exploration program has developed from a zero base, and will therefore take time to mature. In fact, Chang’e 1, 2 and 3 will incorporate many innovations, including those in the lunar probe such as the moon radar carried by Yutu rover, the extreme ultraviolet camera equipped in the lander, and the astronomical telescope based on the moon, all of which are world firsts. So we can expect great results in science and technology in the near future.

Yang Yuguang, researcher of the Second Academy of China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation, said: “It is wrong to suggest that China’s lunar exploration technology is no more than imitation. For example, the US and other countries adopted a simple technique for their first soft landing on the moon: the moon probe enters the lunar trajectory, and where the trajectory meets the moon’s surface, the intersection point is the landing point. Applying reverse-thrust to the engine brings the probe down onto the surface. While straightforward, this is very resource-consuming. Our approach has been to circle the moon and then choose a spot to land. We will therefore have a wide range of choices. Finding a perfect landing spot is crucial, because the lunar probe is unmanned and the time at our disposal is very limited. So we employ advanced technology and instruments such as laser, microwave, and gamma shutdown sensors. Generally speaking, our lunar exploration techniques are both economical and reliable."

China has completed feasibility studies of the fourth phase of its lunar exploration program and is expected to build an international lunar research station on the moon's south pole in the future, said Wu Weiren, the chief designer of China's lunar exploration program. In a March 2021 interview with China Space News, Wu said that three missions are planned for the fourth phase of the lunar exploration program. The program includes the retrieval of lunar samples from the south pole by Chang'e-6, a detailed survey of the moon's south pole resources by Chang'e-7, and the testing of key technologies in preparation for the construction of the lunar research station by Chang'e-8.

According to the legendary story, there were 10 suns blazing in the sky in the remote ancient times. It was said that the sunlight set on the earth like burning fire and the mountain and fields were simply burned open. People living on the earth could find nowhere to run away. Then, there came the brave and highly skilled archer Hou Yi, who shot down nine of the suns and only the present one was left. Hou Yi got the people off the disaster and his great deeds won him the position of the King. However, Hou Yi eventually turned into a tyrant indulging in debauchery and random killing. His subjects hated him to the bone. Anticipating not a long lasting good time, Hou Yi went to the Queen of Wang Mu on the Kun Lun Mountain asking for the never-die elixir. In fear of his ever lasting life remained the suffering of the people, His wife Chang E took the elixir and swallowed it up herself. After that, her body became as light as the cloud and began flying into the midair.

It happened just at the evening of the 15th day of the eighth lunar month with the bright and lovely moon hung above in the sky. Thinking of the evildoing of her husband, she decided to leave for good the heartbroken place and went to the moon. Chang'e decides to live on the moon because it is nearest to the earth. There she lives a simple and contented life. Even though she is in Heaven, her heart remains in the world of mortals. Chang E now rules over the lunar kingdom " Palace of Great Cold", while Hou Yi rules over the solar realm. They are only allowed to meet once a year on the 15th of the 8th lunar month. In memory of Chang E, people later set the date of the 15th day of the eighth lunar month as the date of Mid-Autumn Festival.