China Gets One Step Closer to Completing its Ambitious Lunar Mission

China Gets One Step Closer to Completing its Ambitious Lunar Mission
by Staff Writers
Moscow (Sputnik) Mar 11, 2015

File image.

China successfully tested unmanned docking on the lunar orbit this week to determine whether key technology planned to be used in its Chang'e-5 mission to the Moon was working, according to the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND).

China's lunar exploration program, named after the Chinese moon goddess Chang'e, is currently in its second phase. The first one ended after two Chang'e probes were launched in 2007 and 2010.

The program entered its second phase with the launch of Chang'e-3 in 2013. As part of that mission, China landed a probe and an unmanned lunar rover Yutu, also known as Jade Rabbit, on the surface of the Moon. In November 2014, China successfully completed a return lunar mission.

The Chang'e-5 probe, set to be launched in 2017, is expected to land on the Moon, collect 4 lbs. of samples and return back to Earth.

Source: Sputnik News

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Related Links
China National Space Administration
Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com
Lunar Dreams and more

Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks

del.icio.us

Digg

Google

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS
Solar Energy Solutions
Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison

Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News

Core work: Iron vapor gives clues to formation of Earth and moon
Davis CA (SPX) Mar 03, 2015
Recreating the violent conditions of Earth's formation, scientists are learning more about how iron vaporizes and how this iron rain affected the formation of the Earth and Moon. The study is published March 2 in Nature Geoscience. "We care about when iron vaporizes because it is critical to learning how Earth's core grew," said co-author Sarah Stewart, UC Davis professor of Earth and Plan ... read more

Arianespace's Soyuz ready for next dual-satellite Galileo launch

Soyuz Installed at Baikonur, Expected to Launch Wednesday

Arianespace certified to ISO 50001 at Guiana Space Center

SpaceX launches two communications satellites

Use of Rover Arm Expected to Resume in a Few Days

Research Suggests Mars Once Had More Water than Earth's Arctic Ocean

Mars Colonization Edges Closer Thanks to MIT's Oxygen Factory

Revolutionary Engine Could Fuel Human Life on Mars

Core work: Iron vapor gives clues to formation of Earth and moon

Application of laser microprobe technology to Apollo samples refines lunar impact history

NASA releases video of the far side of the Moon

US Issuing Licenses for Mineral Mining on Moon

Science Shorts: Why Pluto?

Pluto Science, on the Surface

Science Shorts: How Big Is Pluto's Atmosphere?

New Horizons Spots Small Moons Orbiting Pluto

Scientists: Nearby Earth-like planet isn't just 'noise'

'Habitable' planet GJ 581d previously dismissed as noise probably does exist

Exorings on the Horizon

Planet 'Reared' by Four Parent Stars

Shaking test for for Space Launch System at Redstone Test Center

Orion test flight yields critical data for next mission

NASA, Orbital ATK preparing solid tocket booster avionics

IXV Spaceplane misison a boost Thales Alenia Space

China's Space Laboratory Still Cloaked

China at technical preparation stage for Mars, asteroid exploration

China's moon rover Yutu functioning but stationary

Argentina welcomes first Chinese satellite tracking station outside China

Dawn: We Have Arrived at Ceres

Bright lights on dwarf planet perplex NASA as probe nears

NASA space probe 'Dawn' enters orbit of dwarf planet

Ceres' mysterious existence has long puzzled scientists

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.