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Deep space exploration / sampling return launch table for the fourth phase of China's lunar exploration project: Chang'e-6 2024 and Tianwen-3 2028

Shulou Source: shulou.com Published: 2023-11-24 21:02:55 09月27日 Update

CTOnews.com news on October 2, Li Guoping, chief engineer of the National Space Administration, showed the fourth phase of China's lunar exploration project, deep space exploration / sampling return launch table, while attending the plenary session of the 74th International Astronautical Congress (IAC):

Magpie Bridge No.2 Relay Star launched in March 2024

Chang'e-6 was launched in 2024

Asteroid samples returned to Tianwen-2 launched in 2025

Chang'e 7 was launched in 2026.

Chang'e-8 was launched in 2028

Mars sampling Tianwen 3 was launched in 2028.

Jupiter probe Tianyan 4 was launched in 2030

China launches manned lunar landing in 2030

This year, China will comprehensively promote the fourth phase of the lunar exploration project, which is planned to include Chang'e-6, Chang'e-7 and Chang'e-8 missions.

Wu Weiren, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and chief designer of China's lunar exploration project, has previously introduced that the Chang'e-6 mission is scheduled to be carried out before and after 2024. Its main task is to take samples from the far side of the moon and bring lunar samples back to Earth. This is also the first time that man has collected lunar soil from the far side of the moon.

On the other hand, the follow-up Chang'e-7 will go to the South Pole of the moon to look for evidence of the existence of lunar water. Chang'e-8 is scheduled to be launched before 2028 and will cooperate with Chang'e-7 to establish an international lunar research station at the south pole of the moon. It is planned to be completed by 2030 and a series of experiments will be carried out on the exploration and utilization of lunar resources. It is worth mentioning that Chang'e-7 and Chang'e-8 landed in different locations.

Chang'e-7 is scheduled to launch before 2026, and its main mission is to go to the South Pole of the moon to find evidence of the existence of lunar water. The mission is very complex and the risk coefficient is very high. Chang'e-7 is expected to be the first spacecraft to land at the South Pole of the moon.

The CTOnews.com query found that Chang'e-7 consists of several parts, including an orbiter, a lander, a patrol and a leapfrog. They will carry out complex exploration activities at the south pole of the moon, including flying in craters in search of water. The geomorphology, geographical environment, light conditions and temperature of the South Pole of the moon are all extreme, which brings great challenges to the design and work of Chang'e-7.

Everyone is very concerned about China's manned landing on the moon. Is there any hope that we will be able to achieve Chinese landing on the moon before 2030? Wu Weiren said: "before 2030, Chinese footprints will definitely step on the moon, which is no problem."