Tag

#SpaceScience

Browsing
Satellite Technology

Destination Revealed: China’s Sample Return Mission

By
Destination Revealed China's Sample Return Mission

Destination Revealed: China’s Sample Return Mission

Key Takeaway:

China’s Chang’e-6 mission aims to collect the first-ever sample from the far side of the Moon, targeting the Apollo basin within the South Pole-Aitken basin. This mission holds immense significance in understanding the lunar division and addressing fundamental questions about the Moon’s geological evolution.

Summary:

  • Chang’e-6 (CE-6) is China’s latest lunar exploration mission, focused on retrieving samples from the far side of the Moon.
  • The mission targets the Apollo basin within the South Pole-Aitken basin, known for its diverse volcanic activities and geological features.
  • Samples from the far side could shed light on the lunar dichotomy, the stark difference between the near and far sides of the Moon.
  • CE-6 aims to collect samples from regions with different titanium contents, providing insights into lunar petrogenesis and volcanic activities.
  • Scientists anticipate that the returned samples will help answer questions about lunar volcanism, crustal thickness influence, and the cause of lunar nearside-farside asymmetry.
Destination Revealed China's Sample Return Mission
Chang’e-6 will land in the Apollo Basin. This basin is located inside the larger SPA basin. Image Credit: Zeng et al. 2023.

Exploring the Lunar Far Side with Chang’e-6

Humanity’s quest to explore the Moon has reached new heights with China’s Chang’e-6 mission, set to research into the mysteries of the lunar far side. As the spacecraft embarks on this historic journey, scientists eagerly await the invaluable insights it promises to deliver.

The side of the Moon we don’t see from Earth has always interested scientists and space fans. It’s very different from the side we know, which has mostly flat, rocky plains. Instead, the hidden side has lots of rough, bumpy areas with many craters. This big difference has made people curious for a long time, and it’s why we send special missions to explore it and find out more.

Destination Revealed China's Sample Return Mission
This global map of the Moon comes from the Clementine mission. It highlights the differences between the lunar near side and the far side. The near side, which we can see from Earth, features dark areas called lunar mares. The far side has very few of these dark areas. This difference is known as the lunar dichotomy. Credit: NASA.

One important part of this journey is the Chang’e-6 mission run by China’s National Space Administration (CNSA). It’s like a big step forward from the missions they’ve done before. Chang’e-6 is special because it’s trying to bring back samples from the side of the Moon we can’t see from Earth. This mission is a big deal because it gives us a chance to learn more about a place that’s been a mystery to us.

Chang’e-6’s main target is the Apollo basin, which is part of the huge South Pole-Aitken basin. This basin is a massive crater, the second largest one we know about in our whole Solar System. It’s like the main spot where scientists want to explore. Inside this big crater, there are lots of interesting geological things waiting to be discovered.

Dr. Yuqi Qian, who led a big study on where CE-6 will land, talks about how important this spot is. In a recent paper, Dr. Qian and the team stress why it’s crucial to collect samples of rock from the far side of the Moon. These rocks, called mare basalts, can help us figure out how the Moon changed over time. The Apollo basin, where CE-6 is heading, has been active with volcanoes for billions of years. Exploring here could give us key clues about how the Moon formed and evolved.

Destination Revealed China's Sample Return Mission
These two images provide context for the CE-6 landing site. The image on the left displays the Apollo site within the SPA. The image on the right highlights features inside the Apollo crater. It marks the landing zone with a white rectangle. Image Credit: Qian et al. 2024.

The lunar dichotomy, which is a big mystery in lunar science, is what CE-6’s mission is all about. It’s about how the near side of the Moon looks smooth while the far side is all bumpy. Some people think ancient crashes caused this, others think it’s because the crust is thicker in some places. But we still don’t know for sure.

As CE-6 goes into new places on the Moon, its goal is to fill in the gaps by collecting samples from areas with different amounts of titanium. These samples are picked carefully to cover different times in the Moon’s history. They’re super important because they can help us understand how the Moon’s rocks formed and how volcanoes worked there. Professor Joseph Michalski says it’s crucial to have lots of different samples to figure out the Moon’s secrets, showing just how important this mission is for science.

Destination Revealed China's Sample Return Mission
The figure illustrates the best area for sample collection, as identified in the study by the authors. It highlights a region where samples include older, low-titanium basalts and younger, high-titanium basalts. It also includes samples from surface debris caused by impacts at the Chaffee S crater. Image credit: Qian et al. 2024.

With CE-6 poised to return to Earth with up to 2 kg of lunar material, anticipation runs high among the scientific community. These precious samples offer a rare glimpse into the Moon’s geological history, providing answers to long-standing questions. From the evolution of lunar basalts to the influence of crustal thickness on volcanic activity, each sample holds the promise of discovery.

China’s Chang’e-6 mission is a big step forward in our journey to understand the Moon better. By focusing on the Apollo basin on the far side, this mission can teach us a lot about the Moon’s geology and how it changed over time. As the spacecraft travels through space, it’s not just carrying equipment—it’s carrying the dreams of scientists everywhere. This mission could change the way we think about exploring the Moon.

Hashtags:

#ChangE6, #LunarExploration, #MoonMission, #SpaceScience #China
Keep Reading
By
Satellite Technology

Japanese Lunar Lander Successfully Survives Its Third Night on the Moon

By
Japanese Lunar Lander Successfully Survives Its Third Night on the Moon

Japanese Lunar Lander Successfully Survives Its Third Night on the Moon

Key Takeaway

Japan’s SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon) lunar lander, designed to operate for only a single day, has remarkably survived three brutal lunar nights, defying expectations and continuing to transmit data and images despite its unintended upside-down orientation on the lunar surface.

Summary

  • The Japanese Space Agency’s SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon) landed on the Moon on January 19, 2024, with the mission to test lunar landing technology and collect data about surface geology.
  • After landing, SLIM ended up in an upended position, resting on its face, which affected the solar panel orientation and limited its operational time.
  • SLIM was not designed to survive the harsh lunar nights, where temperatures plummet to -170°C, but it unexpectedly survived the first lunar night that began on January 31.
  • Despite being disbanded in March, the operations team received signals from SLIM after the second and third lunar nights, indicating its continued operation.
  • SLIM was even spotted by cameras on board the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter after the second lunar night.
  • On April 24, 2024, JAXA announced that SLIM had survived its third lunar night, continuing to transmit images and data.
  • The mission aimed to test pinpoint landing technology that uses facial recognition systems to identify craters and achieve an accurate touchdown within 100 meters.
  • Although the landing was accurate, SLIM’s upended position was unexpected.
  • JAXA hopes to use the data from the resilient SLIM to learn more about the origin of the Moon by analyzing the surface geology.
Japanese Lunar Lander Successfully Survives Its Third Night on the Moon
The SLIM spacecraft saw the lunar surface.

The Resilient Lunar Explorer: Japan’s SLIM Lander Defies Expectations

When Japan’s Space Agency (JAXA) launched the SLIM (Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon) mission, little did they expect the small lunar lander to become a groundbreaker in lunar exploration. Designed to operate for just a single day, SLIM has defied all odds by surviving three brutal lunar nights, where temperatures plummet to a bone-chilling -170°C (-274°F).

SLIM touched down on the lunar surface on January 19, 2024, with the primary objective of testing lunar landing technology and gathering data about the Moon’s surface geology. However, the landing didn’t go entirely as planned. Instead of settling on its base, SLIM found itself in an upended position, resting on its face.

This unexpected orientation had a significant impact on the solar panel alignment, limiting the lander’s operational time to just a few hours after dawn and before sunset. Despite this setback, SLIM soldiered on, transmitting valuable data and images during its brief windows of operation.

One of the most remarkable aspects of SLIM’s mission is its ability to withstand the harsh lunar environment. The lander was never designed to endure the freezing temperatures and extreme conditions of the lunar night, yet it managed to power through not just one, but three consecutive lunar nights.

The first lunar night began on January 31, and against all odds, SLIM survived the ordeal, powering back up on February 15. This feat alone was a remarkable achievement, but SLIM wasn’t done yet.

Even after the operations team was disbanded in March, SLIM continued to surprise everyone. Signals were received from the lander after the second and third lunar nights, indicating its unwavering determination to keep exploring.

JAXA’s announcement on April 24, 2024, confirming SLIM’s survival of its third lunar night, was a cause for celebration among space enthusiasts worldwide. The resilient little lander, against all expectations, continued to transmit data and images, providing invaluable insights into the lunar surface.

One of the key objectives of the SLIM mission was to test cutting-edge pinpoint landing technology. This innovative system utilizes facial recognition algorithms to identify craters on the lunar surface, allowing for highly accurate landings within a 100-meter radius of the target location.

While the landing itself was accurate, SLIM’s upended position was an unexpected outcome. Nonetheless, the data gathered during this process will undoubtedly contribute to the refinement of future lunar landing techniques.

JAXA’s ultimate goal with the SLIM mission is to gain a deeper understanding of the Moon’s origin by analyzing the surface geology. The lander’s unexpected longevity has provided an unprecedented opportunity to collect data over an extended period, potentially shedding new light on the formation and evolution of our celestial neighbor.

SLIM’s remarkable resilience and determination have not only captivated the scientific community but have also inspired future lunar exploration missions. The lander’s ability to overcome adversity and adapt to unforeseen circumstances serves as a testament to the ingenuity and perseverance of space exploration efforts.

As we look towards the future, SLIM’s achievements will undoubtedly pave the way for more ambitious and daring lunar missions, driving us ever closer to unlocking the mysteries of our nearest celestial neighbor.

HASHTAGS:

#SLIM, #LunarExploration, #JAXA, #MoonLanding, #SpaceScience, #LunarGeology, #ResilientTechnology, #MoonOrigin, #PinpointLanding, #SpaceInnovation #Japanese Lunar Lander

Source:

Keep Reading
By
Space-Based Navigation

Artemis Astronauts to Launch New Seismometers on the Moon

By
Artemis Astronauts to Launch New Seismometers on the Moon

Artemis Astronauts to Launch New Seismometers on the Moon

Key Takeaway:

Artemis astronauts will revolutionize lunar seismology by deploying a new network of seismometers based on distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology, providing high-precision data on moonquakes and advancing our understanding of the Moon’s interior structure.

Summary:

  • Introduction to Apollo-era lunar seismometers.
  • Development of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology for lunar quake detection.
  • Comparison between DAS and Apollo seismometers.
  • Explanation of how DAS detects moonquakes.
  • Application of DAS in Antarctica as a prototype for lunar deployment.
  • Advantages of DAS over traditional seismometers.
  • Insight into moonquake causes and detection frequency.
  • Planned deployment of DAS as part of Artemis missions.
Artemis Astronauts to Launch New Seismometers on the Moon
Antarctica from above. A lunar DAS system prototype for Artemis Moon missions found small tremors caused by moving ice here.

Complete Story

Back in the 1960s and 1970s, Apollo astronauts laid the groundwork for lunar seismology by deploying seismometers on the Moon to detect potential moonquakes. These instruments, although groundbreaking at the time, provided only limited and often noisy data due to the scattering of seismic waves as they traveled through the lunar surface. Now, with the upcoming Artemis missions, a new era of lunar seismology is set to begin.

According to CalTech geophysics professor Zhongwen Zhan, the future of lunar quake detection lies in distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology. DAS utilizes fiber optic cable buried just below the lunar surface to create a network of seismic sensors. Zhan’s innovative approach turns the cable into a series of individual seismometers, providing precise information about the strength and timing of moonquakes. Remarkably, a 100-kilometer fiber optic cable can function as the equivalent of 10,000 traditional seismometers, significantly reducing the number of instruments needed for deployment.

As Zhan explains,

“DAS offers a vast improvement over Apollo-era seismometers. Its distributed nature allows for precise measurements of seismic activity, even in the challenging lunar environment.”

In Antarctica, a prototype DAS system successfully detected small tremors caused by ice movements, demonstrating its potential for lunar deployment. This technology will be crucial for understanding moonquake causes and frequencies, which include temperature changes, tidal forces from Earth, and lunar contraction.

A key advantage of DAS is its resilience to the harsh lunar environment, including high radiation, extreme temperatures, and heavy dust. This durability ensures the reliability of seismic data collected over extended periods.

Artemis Astronauts to Launch New Seismometers on the Moon
A seismometer station was set up on the Moon. This happened during the Apollo 15 mission. NASA was responsible for this.

Zhan’s research suggests that DAS could detect close to 100 percent of moonquakes, providing valuable insights into the Moon’s interior structure. By characterizing different types of moonquakes, such as thermal quakes and those caused by impacts, scientists can deepen their understanding of lunar geology.

The deployment of DAS will be integrated into the surface operations of the Artemis missions, following the establishment of lunar bases and other infrastructure. While there is no specific date set for seismometer deployment, it is anticipated to occur in the mid-2030s, marking a significant milestone in lunar exploration.

HASHTAGS:

#Artemis #MoonQuakes #LunarSeismology #DASTechnology #ApolloMission #MoonExploration #SpaceScience #LunarDeployment #SeismicSensors #MoonGeology #Artemis Astronauts
Keep Reading
By
Pin It
error: Content is protected !!

On this website we use first or third-party tools that store small files (<i>cookie</i>) on your device. Cookies are normally used to allow the site to run properly (<i>technical cookies</i>), to generate navigation usage reports (<i>statistics cookies</i>) and to suitable advertise our services/products (<i>profiling cookies</i>). We can directly use technical cookies, but <u>you have the right to choose whether or not to enable statistical and profiling cookies</u>. <b>Enabling these cookies, you help us to offer you a better experience</b>.

Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy