The far side of the Moon and distant Earth, imaged by the Chang'e-5 T1 mission service module in 2014 Credit: Chinese Academy of Sciences

Chang’e-4 relay satellite enters halo orbit around Earth-Moon L2, microsatellite in lunar orbit

by —

The relay satellite which will facilitate China’s Chang’e-4 lunar far side landing mission late in 2018 has entered its intended halo orbit around Earth-Moon Lagrange point 2.

Missions Chang'eChinaMoonSaudi Arabia
The far side of the Moon and distant Earth, imaged by the Chang'e-5 T1 mission service module in 2014 Credit: Chinese Academy of Sciences

China preparing to launch Chang’e-4 relay satellite May 21

by —

China is set to launch a relay satellite to the second Earth-moon Lagrange point May 21, in a necessary precursor to the planned Chang’e-4 soft-landing on the lunar far side late in the year.

Launch Missions Chang'eChinaMoon
The South Pole-Aitken Basin on the lunar far side is one of the largest and oldest impact features in the solar system. It's easily seen in the elevation data. The low center is dark blue and purple. Mountains on its edge, remnants of outer rings, are red and yellow. Credit: NASA/GSFC/University of Arizona

China sets sights on moon’s south pole, with ESA collaboration talks ongoing

by —

China is working on plans to extend its Chang’e robotic lunar program to explore the moon’s south pole in the 2020s and is already engaging in talks with the European Space Agency on possible cooperation.

From the Magazine Chang'eChina
Liquid rocket engine test firing in a ravine near Xi’an, north China (Credit: CCTV 9/Youtube/Framegrab)

China reveals cause of Long March 5 failure; lunar sample mission to follow return-to-flight

by —

China has disclosed the cause of the failure of the Long March 5 heavy-lift rocket last July, revealing that a turbopump exhaust issue prevented the rocket reaching orbit.

Launch Chang'eDFH-5Long March 5