Chang'e 1 China moon mission countdown and launch

[01101001]

China Daily: China: One step closer to the Moon

Zhang didn't specify the launch date.

Hmph, no countdown-and-launch thread for you, then!

... at least until they do announce a date.

According to the latest report, Chang'e 1 will be launched on October 26.

A date! October 26.

So, this then is the Chang'e 1 countdown and launch thread.

Some links:

Wikipedia: Chang'e program
Planetary Society: Space Topics :: Chang'e 1
China's Lunar Exploration Program: CLEP official site (too much Flash, not enough meat)
China National Space Administration
BAUT Forum topic: China plans Moon exploration - more news
BAUT Forum topic: China to the Moon
BAUT Forum topic: China plans to survey 'every inch' of moon
NASA Solar System Exploration :: Mission to the Moon :: Chang'e 1 profile
NASA: Planetary and Lunar Missions Under Consideration :: Chang'e 1

Chang'e 1 is planned to be the first of a series of Chinese missions to the Moon. The spacecraft will launch in late 2007 on a CZ-3A booster and orbit the Moon for a year to test the technology for future missions and to study the lunar environment and surface regolith. The orbiter is based on the DFH-3 Comsat bus and will have a mass of roughly 2000 kg, 150 kg of which will be the scientific payload. The payload will include a stereo camera system to map the lunar surface, an altimeter to measure the distance between the spacecraft and the surface, a gamma/X-ray spectrometer to study the overall composition and radioactive components of the Moon, a microwave radiometer to map the thickness of the lunar regolith, and a system of space environment monitors to collect data on the solar wind and near-lunar region. The Chang'e program is named for a Chinese legend about a young fairy who flies to the Moon.

Approximately 18 days to launch.

[KaiYeves]

I thought Chang'e's wife was the one who went to the moon, because he was chasing her for stealing his potion of immortality.

[01101001]

I thought Chang'e's wife was the one who went to the moon, because he was chasing her for stealing his potion of immortality.

Wikipedia: Chang'e (mythology) lists moon goddess Chang'e's husband as Houyi. Four versions of the tale of Chang'e are presented.

I think I had heard this other tale, but didn't make the connection:

The moon goddess was mentioned in the conversation between Houston Capcom and Apollo 11 crew just before the first moon landing:

Houston: Among the large headlines concerning Apollo this morning there's one asking that you watch for a lovely girl with a big rabbit. An ancient legend says a beautiful Chinese girl called Chang-o has been living there for 4000 years. It seems she was banished to the moon because she stole the pill for immortality from her husband. You might also look for her companion, a large Chinese rabbit, who is easy to spot since he is only standing on his hind feet in the shade of a cinnamon tree. The name of the rabbit is not recorded.

Collins: Okay, we'll keep a close eye for the bunny girl.

The bunny girl.

[KaiYeves]

The bunny girl.

And her close anime relative, the cat girl.

[yaohua2000]

Probe model:

[Launch window]

Yaohua that looks like a lander, is that this Chang'e mission or the next one after ?




PS
Could you be more careful with the hotlinking, it's a killer for those of us on slow laptops.

[01101001]

Yaohua that looks like a lander, is that this Chang'e mission or the next one after ?

Or, the one after the one after?

JAXA Lunar Explorers around the World shows concepts for Chang'e 1 orbiter, Chang'e 2 lander, and Chang'e 3 returner. The above looks like Chang'e 3, with an ascent stage.

[01101001]

About 2 weeks to launch. Haven't seen scheduled launch time, yet.

October 26 (China Standard Time? UTC?)

[KaiYeves]

Mythologist. It's a hard job, but somebody's got to do it.

[Launch window]

China offers public chance to view first moon launch
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5...h0su1yXud3COIA

BEIJING (AFP) — China is offering 2,000 tickets to view the launch of the country's first lunar mission, the Chang'e 1 probe satellite, a company said Friday.

Only Chinese nationals are allowed to buy the tickets, priced at 800 yuan (107 dollars) each, Yang Pei, a spokeswoman for the ticket agency, Chengdu Chang'e Benyue Co. Ltd., told AFP.

Viewers can choose from three viewing points, with two located 2.5 kilometres (1.6 miles) away from the launch site and one four kilometres away, according to Friday's Shanghai Morning Post.

The Chang'e 1 lunar probe is undergoing final tests ahead of its scheduled launch before the end of 2007. It is now at the launch site outside the southwestern city of Xichang.

The probe will be followed by robotic missions and, eventually, a lunar base to allow astronauts to live longer on the moon and utilise its resources.

China successfully launched astronaut Yang Liwei into orbit in 2003, becoming the third country after the former Soviet Union and the United States to put a man in space.

[yaohua2000]

China offers public chance to view first moon launch
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5...h0su1yXud3COIA

I telephoned them yesterday afternoon and booked a seat. But I have not paid for it. Does it worth the money? (CNY¥800.00 + 2561*2 km round-trip train from beijing to the launch site + maybe hotel)

[Launch window]

sounds like a long trip, will this be the first launch you've seen ?

[01101001]

New launch window

The Planetary Society Weblog: Chang'e 1 launching October 22-25

Wang Chun just sent me another email pointing me to a Chinese news story that announces that Chang'e 1 is launching in a week! The launch date is given as a range, October 22-25.

Shanghai Daily: China to launch first lunar satellite next week

CHINA'S first lunar satellite is scheduled to blast off next week from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, the Shanghai Morning Post reported today.

"October 22 to 25 is the best period for the launch according to an analysis of weather, but the detailed time can't be revealed now," an official with the center said.

The satellite, named "Chang'e" after the legendary Chinese goddess who flew to the moon, will orbit the Earth five to seven times before heading to the moon within 12 days.

7 to 10 days to launch

[yaohua2000]

The launch is scheduled at 2007-10-24 10:05 UTC according to the latest report.

New launch window

The Planetary Society Weblog: Chang'e 1 launching October 22-25



Shanghai Daily: China to launch first lunar satellite next week



7 to 10 days to launch

[KaiYeves]

"Up, up, up!
Higher, higher
Up, up, up
We're on fire!"

[01101001]

The launch is scheduled at 2007-10-24 10:05 UTC according to the latest report.

Xie xie. Hope you can make it in person. Take pictures for us!

Wednesday, October 24, 1805 CST
Wednesday, October 24, 1005 UTC
Wednesday, October 24, 0605 EDT
Wednesday, October 24, 0305 PDT

1 week and 4 hours to launch.

[yaohua2000]

Xie xie. Hope you can make it in person. Take pictures for us!

Wednesday, October 24, 1805 CST
Wednesday, October 24, 1005 UTC
Wednesday, October 24, 0605 EDT
Wednesday, October 24, 0305 PDT

1 week and 4 hours to launch.

Got the ticket this afternoon: Front side | Back side

[01101001]

Some photos of the Xichang Satellite Launch Center located in southwest China's Sichuan Province:

china.org.cn: Moon orbiter, Chang'e I, sets to take off

(Google Map for context)

And, in other slow news...

chinanews.cn: Chinese music to be played in space

Chinanews, Shanghai, Oct 18 – China's first moon probe satellite Chang'e No. 1 will be sent to space soon. Along with the satellite, 30 classical Chinese songs and music pieces will also be sent to space. These songs include My Lovely Hometown (Shui Bu Shuo An Jia Xiang Hao), Moonlight over Erquan Springs, Ode to the Yellow River, The Butterfly Lovers, etc, the Shanghai Evening Post reported.
[...]
In addition to these 30, the song March of the Volunteers and The East is Red (Dong Fang Hong) were also selected. The former song is China's national anthem and the latter was once played on China's first manmade satellite DFH-1. The two songs have been selected because of their special historical significance.

Targeted launch:
Wednesday, October 24, 1805 CST
Wednesday, October 24, 1005 UTC
Wednesday, October 24, 0605 EDT
Wednesday, October 24, 0305 PDT

[Count Zero]

Great stuff! It pleases me that both the Chinese and Japanese are treating their moon probes as more than just engineering feats, but also as cultural achievements. Both nations can take justifiable pride in their accomplishments.

[01101001]

AP: China to Launch Lunar Probe This Week

The launch window for China's Chang'e 1 orbiter has been set for Wednesday through Friday, with the prime time being 6 p.m. (6 a.m. EDT) Wednesday, said Li Guoping, a spokesman for the China National Space Administration.

"The orbiting of the moon is a high-tech project of self-innovation," Li told reporters. "It will set the technological foundation for the development of China's space exploration."

The Chang'e 1 — named after a legendary Chinese goddess who flew to the moon — would be launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province in southwestern China, Li said.

Pre-launch inspections have been completed and "they fully fulfill the technical requirements," he said, reading from a statement. He did not take questions.

Targeted launch:
Wednesday, October 24, 1805 CST
Wednesday, October 24, 1005 UTC
Wednesday, October 24, 0605 EDT
Wednesday, October 24, 0305 PDT

28 hours to launch

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Orlando Sentinel: NASA points to foreign competition to spark support

With Discovery on the launchpad ready for liftoff today and only 13 flights left until the three shuttles are mothballed, NASA's top officials are clamoring about a new space race to help push the agency into the future.

Their effort, expressed in speeches and interviews during the past several months, is fueled by a fear that unless something sparks a public outcry for an invigorated space-exploration program, the United States could lose its global leadership role in the quest for the stars.
[...]
Aides acknowledge that Griffin -- like the rest of the space community -- is hoping for some kind of a "Sputnik moment," an event capable of driving public demand for space exploration as the Soviet Union's launch of the first satellite did 50 years ago. And recently, he has been warning that America is already falling behind China's aggressive space program.
[...]
"I think most people will look at the Chinese [manned] landing on the moon and shrug, and wonder, 'What's the big deal? We did that 40 years ago,' " said Howard McCurdy, a space historian at American University.

And for those who think NASA is covering up news of an impending asteroid strike:

"Short of real international competition, an Arizona-sized asteroid strike would do it," says McCurdy, adding, "In the 1960s, NASA was racing to beat a date. Today, it needs to race to beat a dollar."

Enough about NASA. Back to "bunny girl" Chang'e...

CCTV: Chinese dream of flying to the moon to achieve by launch of Chang´e 1 -- with a video report

Flying to the moon has been a Chinese dream for thousands of years. With the launch of China's first lunar exploration project -- the Chang'e 1-- this ancient desire is coming closer to becoming a modern reality.

This is the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory. The staff are preparing to process data from China's first moon probe project-- the Chang'e 1. One of the key scientists directing this part of the process is Professor Ye Shuhua. She has been working at this observatory for nearly half a century. To Ye Shuhua, China's lunar project is exciting news for the country's space industry and a long awaited dream come true.

Targeted launch:
Wednesday, October 24, 1805 CST
Wednesday, October 24, 1005 UTC
Wednesday, October 24, 0605 EDT
Wednesday, October 24, 0305 PDT

16 hours to launch

[yaohua2000]

Departed from Beijing west railway station at 2007-10-22 17:56 CST, and arrived in Xichang city about 2 hours ago at 2007-10-24 08:02 CST.

Light rain here... But they said Chang'e 1 will be launched at the time as announced before, so next will take bus from Xichang city to the satellite launch center about 2 hours later at noon.

[01101001]

Light rain here... But they said Chang'e 1 will be launched at the time as announced before, so next will take bus from Xichang city to the satellite launch center about 2 hours later at noon.

I hope you get a great seat. Enjoy the launch.

I'm not expecting to see much coverage on the Web, maybe just a news item that it's happened. You might be our best source of information.

International Herald Tribune: Preparations nearly complete for China's first lunar probe launch

China was on schedule to launch its first lunar probe Wednesday evening, a space official and state media said.

The scheduled launch of the Chang'e 1 orbiter comes just weeks after China's regional rival Japan put one in orbit over the moon in a big leap forward for Asia's undeclared space race.
[...]
China's launch was expected to take place at 6 p.m. (1000 GMT) Wednesday, said Li Guoping, spokesman for the China National Space Administration.

The Long March 3A rocket was on the launch pad and weather forecasters had said conditions would be favorable during the three-day launch time "window" of Wednesday through Friday, the official Xinhua News Agency said, citing a spokesman at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwestern China's Sichuan Province.

China Daily: Countdown to another leap upward

China's space ambitions are at least six centuries old.

It all began when Wan Hu, an official of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), became the earliest documented pioneer of rocket flight in both China and the world.

One day in the early 16th century, in an ambitious attempt to fly to outer space, he bundled himself into a chair attached to 47 rockets while holding a large kite in each hand.

The final result was fatal. Wan died in an explosion of rockets.

It would take another 600 years until manned spaceflight became a reality for China.

A crater on the moon has been named after Wan, and today's expected launch of China's first lunar probe will herald in a new era for the country's space ambitions to achieve a successful moon landing by 2012.

Targeted launch:
Wednesday, October 24, 1805 CST
Wednesday, October 24, 1005 UTC
Wednesday, October 24, 0605 EDT
Wednesday, October 24, 0305 PDT

6 hours to launch

[01101001]

The Times Online UK: China prepares for lunar mission

Farmers in Naji village have locked up their pigs and chickens lest the imminent launch of the first Chinese moon orbiter frightens the animals.

Villagers are also being moved away two hours before blast-off in case it misfires, but they will still have a ringside seat for China’s first step in its ambitious mission to reach the Moon.
[...]
Ouyang Ziyuan, the chief scientist for the Chinese lunar programme, said that exploiting the Moon was important for China. “In the current international situation, if China does not do this it will be difficult to escape the fate of being left behind and beaten yet again.”

[01101001]

CCTV will broadcast video of the launch of Chang'e 1.

Perhaps it will be webcast, too.

CCTV International

On CCTV Live:
Oct. 24 at 06:00pm- Launch of China´s lunar orbiter "Chang´e-1"

There's a "Watch CCTV Live" button there. Eww. It wants to install an Active-X control. Uh... no thanks.

Maybe: CCTV Chang'e I Journey to the Moon page, where currently English-language reports about Chang'e preparations are happening. I don't know if this is live or just archives of video reports about Chang'e 1. Looks like video archives.

Oh, yeah... 4 hours and 2 minutes to launch.

[Launch window]

It got delayed due to weather but should launch very soon

[Bolasanibk]

Launched

The link also contains a link to the video of the launch.

[Launch window]

Solar panel of Chang'e-1 probe unfolded as planned

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/20...nt_6937825.htm

[01101001]

ESA: Chang'e-1 - new mission to Moon lifts off

ESA is collaborating with the Chinese on this mission by providing spacecraft and ground operations support services to CNSA. The two agencies will also share data and encourage a visitors’ programme so that researchers can learn from each other.
[...]
"ESA's expertise in tracking Chang'e-1 sets the stage for future cooperation with China. The Agency's tracking stations network, ESTRACK, is a resource that benefits not only the Agency but also all space science through such international cooperation," said Erik Soerensen, Head of the System Requirements and Validation Section at ESA's European Space Operations Centre.

Wired: First Chinese Lunar Mission Lifts Off

Chalk this up as a crowded week in space. Not hours after the launch of the Discovery space shuttle comes the liftoff of China's first lunar mission, the Chang'e-1.

So far everything has gone smoothly, with a 6:05 pm local time launch and subsequent deployment of solar panels for power, according to Chinese officials. The lunar trip will take a few days, with a tranfer orbit change slated for Oct. 31, and arrival at its final moon orbit on Nov. 5, according to China's state news service, Xinhua.

AP: China Launches 1st Lunar Probe

China launched its first lunar probe Wednesday, an initial step in an ambitious 10-year plan to send a rover to the moon and return it to Earth.

The Chang'e 1 orbiter blasted off with a trail of smoke from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province in southwestern China, according to images from state television.

The launch comes just weeks after China's regional rival Japan put a probe into orbit around the moon in a great leap forward in Asia's undeclared space race. India is likely to join the regional rivalry soon, with plans to send its own lunar probe into space in April.

[yaohua2000]

The observe location was on a hill and about five kilometer away from the launch site. The weather was foggy and local farmers burn straw which make smoke. But the view was still great in a telescope. The launch was on time at 18:05. My seat might be one of the best among all visitors, located at 28.2017 N, 102.0655 E, and 1712 m above sea level.

I will go further south to visit Yunnan and Guangxi provinces in the coming six days. I cannot upload photos because I only have slow and expensive GPRS Internet connection before October 31.