Chinese Moon launch start count down

专家称嫦娥一号计划24日下午6时许发射
experts claimed Chang'e I planned to be lauched on 6PM 24th this month!

中国网 china.com.cn　　时间： 2007-10-16　　发表评论>>
本报讯(记者蔡文清)记者今天上午获悉，“嫦娥1号”将在10月24日下午6时许发射升空。有关天文空间研 究方面的专家也证实了这一说法。

据专家透露，卫星最佳发射时间的确定相当复杂，需对当地雷电、降水和云量等因素进行详细分析，并结合相关历 史资料来判断。在航天、卫星发射、气象、天文等多个部门反复协商下，最终确定了最佳发射窗口为10月24日 下午6时05分左右。

目前西昌卫星发射中心的准备工作紧张而有序，用于发射“嫦娥1号”的长征三号甲火箭已经吊装进3号塔的回转 平台，而“嫦娥1号”也已经进入发射区3号发射塔静静矗立，蓝色的回转平台紧紧闭合，呈测试状态。西昌卫星 发射中心测试发射、测量控制等五大系统科技人员，正在争分夺秒，精测细量，为确保“嫦娥1号”卫星顺利发射 升空进行最后的准备，目前准备工作一切顺利。

据了解，为确保“嫦娥1号”顺利升空，西昌卫星发射中心对2号、3号发射塔都进行了数十项技术改造。目前， 中心两个塔架均具备发射“嫦娥1号”的能力。有专家评价说，升级后的3号发射塔架已成为世界上最先进的发射 塔架之一。数天之后，“嫦娥1号”将从85米高的3号发射塔起飞，奔往38万公里之外的月球。届时世界将再 次瞩目中国。

本报特派记者将在“嫦娥1号”发射前奔赴发射基地，为读者带来最新的现场报道。

It appears the Chinese moon shot is right on schedule...Here are some very recent pictures for you gents to enjoy!

XICHANG, CHINA - OCTOBER 21: (CHINA OUT) A view of the Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) October 21, 2007 located in southwest Sichuan Province China . China's researchers and technicians are making final preparations for the launch of the country's first moon orbiter, Chang'e I, at the end of October, according to Zhang Qingwei, minister in charge of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (COSTIND)(Photo by Zhao Jianwei/ChinaFotoPress)

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XICHANG, CHINA - OCTOBER 21: (CHINA OUT) A tourist poses for pictures in front of the "ChangZheng 3" rocket at an exhibition hall of the Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) on October 21, 2007 in Xichang of Sichuan Province, China. (Photo by China Photos/***** Images)

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XICHANG, CHINA - OCTOBER 21: (CHINA OUT) The model of Chang'e Moon Orbiter on sale in town near to the Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) October 21, 2007 located in southwest Sichuan Province China . China's researchers and technicians are making final preparations for the launch of the country's first moon orbiter, Chang'e I, at the end of October, according to Zhang Qingwei, minister in charge of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (COSTIND)(Photo by Zhao Jianwei/ChinaFotoPress)

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westlife007 said:

专家称嫦娥一号计划24日下午6时许发射
experts claimed Chang'e I planned to be lauched on 6PM 24th this month!

中国网 china.com.cn　　时间： 2007-10-16　　发表评论>>
本报讯(记者蔡文清)记者今天上午获悉，“嫦娥1号”将在10月24日下午6时许发射升空。有关天文空间研 究方面的专家也证实了这一说法。

据专家透露，卫星最佳发射时间的确定相当复杂，需对当地雷电、降水和云量等因素进行详细分析，并结合相关历 史资料来判断。在航天、卫星发射、气象、天文等多个部门反复协商下，最终确定了最佳发射窗口为10月24日 下午6时05分左右。

目前西昌卫星发射中心的准备工作紧张而有序，用于发射“嫦娥1号”的长征三号甲火箭已经吊装进3号塔的回转 平台，而“嫦娥1号”也已经进入发射区3号发射塔静静矗立，蓝色的回转平台紧紧闭合，呈测试状态。西昌卫星 发射中心测试发射、测量控制等五大系统科技人员，正在争分夺秒，精测细量，为确保“嫦娥1号”卫星顺利发射 升空进行最后的准备，目前准备工作一切顺利。

据了解，为确保“嫦娥1号”顺利升空，西昌卫星发射中心对2号、3号发射塔都进行了数十项技术改造。目前， 中心两个塔架均具备发射“嫦娥1号”的能力。有专家评价说，升级后的3号发射塔架已成为世界上最先进的发射 塔架之一。数天之后，“嫦娥1号”将从85米高的3号发射塔起飞，奔往38万公里之外的月球。届时世界将再 次瞩目中国。

本报特派记者将在“嫦娥1号”发射前奔赴发射基地，为读者带来最新的现场报道。

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Hey Boy:

Your post has been posted shortly above. If possible, please give a translate version, but no automatic translation please. Thank you!

The Peoples Republic of China launches it's first Moon probe!:china:

Experts monitor the launch of China's first moon orbiter, Chang'e-1, at the satellite flight control headquarters in Beijing, China, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007. The orbiter took off at 6:05 p.m. on Wednesday. (Yao Dawei/Xinhua News Agency/WpN) **CHINA OUT**

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Residents living near the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province evacuate before the launch of China's first moon orbiter, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007. The launch of the orbiter is scheduled to take place at 6:05 p.m. on Wednesday. (Li Gang/Xinhua News Agency/WpN) **CHINA OUT**

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Visitors sign on the banner to express their wishes for a successful launch of Chang'e-1 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007. Thousands of people waited at the launch center to view the launch of China's first lunar orbiter Chang'e-1. (Xinhua News Agency/WpN) **CHINA OUT**

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Journalists wait near Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007, before the launch of China's first lunar orbiter Chang'e-1. (Li Gang/Xinhua News Agency/WpN) **CHINA OUT**

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China's first moon orbiter, Chang'e-1, lifts off from the launch pad at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007. (Li Gang/Xinhua News Agency/WpN) **CHINA OUT**

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this is kind of interesting, talks about tracking with submarine and yuan wang

hina to test space weapon in launching moon satellite: rights group
China to test space weapon in launching moon satellite: rights group

Kyodo News

(c) 2007 Kyodo News

HONG KONG, Oct. 23 -- A Chinese submarine will send test signals that could change the course of a satellite when China launches its first moon orbiter, as part of the country's effort to develop space war technology, a human rights watchdog said Tuesday.

The Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy said two survey ships are deployed in the South Pacific Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean to send signals to maneuver the lunar exploration satellite, expected to be launched Wednesday. At the same time, a nuclear-powered submarine will send simulated signals to the satellite as a test, it said in a statement.

Once the satellite-maneuvering technology matures, the group said, China would have the know-how to destroy other satellites in space in wartime. China could launch cheaply-made weapon-carrying objects into space and change their courses to destroy or damage satellites of other countries by sending signals from submarines, the center said.

China shocked the world in January by firing a missile at an old weather satellite without notifying anyone in advance, showing off its anti-satellite weaponry and its ability to shoot down satellites without being immediately noticed.

Hong Kong's media reported that a rocket that will carry the satellite was being fueled up, banners of greetings on the successful launch were prepared and farmers living near the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, in mid-western China's Sichuan Province, will be evicted one hour ahead of the launch.

China plans to launch the satellite around 6 p.m. Wednesday, the official Xinhua News Agency reported Monday, quoting a spokesman of the China National Space Administration. The satellite is named Chang'e I after the legendary Chinese goddess who, according to legend, flew to the moon.

China's space industry enjoyed its first major success after astronaut Yang Liwei reentered Earth after 21 hours in space in 2003 in the spacecraft Shenzhou 5, marking China's first successful manned space mission.

A second manned space mission was successfully concluded in 2005 after astronauts Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng finished orbiting the Earth for five days in the spacecraft Shenzhou 6.

==Kyodo

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Re: China's Lunar Probe Entered Moon's Orbit

China's moon probe has successfully entered the moon orbit this morning. I suppose this was the last of the few critical maneuvers that would determine the success or failure of the mission.






China's first lunar probe enters moon's orbit
+ - 12:57, November 05, 2007

China's first lunar probe, Chang'e-1, successfully completed its first braking at perilune and enters the moon's orbit Monday morning, becoming China's first circumlunar satellite.

Chang'e-1, following the instructions of the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC), started braking at 11:15 a.m. at a position around 300 km away from the moon and entered the moon's orbit at around 11:37 a.m. after completing the braking, according to the BACC.

The braking was performed just in time to decelerate the probe, enabling it to be captured by the lunar gravity and become a "real" circumlunar satellite, said Wang Yejun, chief engineer of BACC.



The CCTV footage shows that China's first lunar probe Chang'e-1 successfully completed its first braking at perilune and enters the moon's orbit Monday morning, Nov. 5, 2007. (Photo: CCTV.com)

"The first braking at perilune is a key moment in the long journey of Chang'e-1," Wang said.

The speed of Chang'e-1 reached about 2.3 km per second when it started braking. It would likely fly away from the moon if the braking was too early, or it would crash into the moon if the braking was too late, scientists said.

After the braking, the probe's speed was slowed down to 1.948 km per second and is now traveling along a 12-hour elliptical moon orbit, with a perilune of about 200 km and an apolune of 8553 km.

"The orbit that Chang'e-1 is now moving on fully tallies with the one we have designed and the speed is within a normal range," said Ji Gang, an engineer of monitoring and controlling branch of the moon probe program.

The probe is expected to brake for another two times in the following two days to further slow down to enter a round orbit, where it is supposed to start "working" formally.

Chang'e-1 will then stay a year in the 127-minute round orbit, which is 200 km from the moon's surface, for scientific explorations.

China's first lunar probe, Chang'e-1, named after a legendary Chinese goddess who flew to the moon, blasted off on a Long March 3A carrier rocket on Oct. 24 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwestern Sichuan Province.

Source: Xinhua

Re: China's Lunar Probe Entered Moon's Orbit

Quickie said:

China's moon probe has successfully entered the moon orbit this morning. I suppose this was the last of the few critical maneuvers that would determine the success or failure of the mission.

.....

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2 more 'braking' maneuvers. 1 each tomorrow & the day after before reaching its final orbit.

In the final orbit, the probe would be just 200 km from the moon surface. This last 2 maneuvers would have more leeways to errors as opposed to the last maneuver which, if something has gone wrong, would have caused the probe to crash on the moon or to fly off from it.

Update:

Fuel saved by accurate maneuvers may prolong probe's work by one year

Xinhua - English 2007-11-06 13:08:54

BEIJING, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- The fuel saved by accurate orbital maneuvers may help prolong the working time of Chang'e-1, China's first lunar probe, by about one year, said a Chinese researcher on Tuesday.

"So far, orbital transfers of the probe have all been done accurately," said Bian Bingxiu, a researcher with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, following the probe's successful second braking.

Chang'e-1 completed its second braking and entered a 3.5-hour orbit with a perilune of 213 km and an apolune of 1,700 km at around 11:35 a.m. on Tuesday.

"The precise ground maneuvers and orbital transfers have saved a lot of fuel, which may prolong the probe's working time on its final orbit by around one year," Bian said.

Chang'e-1 is expected to brake for the third time to enter a 127-minute round polar circular orbit, where it was originally designed to stay a year for scientific explorations.

China has accomplished another major scientific milestone ...

Chang'e-1 completes long journey to moon successfully
November 07, 2007

China's first lunar probe, Chang'e-1, completed its 1,580,000-km flying journey to the moon successfully on Wednesday morning and entered its working orbit.
The probe, following instructions of the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC), started its third braking at 8:24 a.m. and entered a 127-minute round polar circular orbit at around 8:35 a.m. after completing the braking.
The TV pictures showed gray-haired Luan Enjie, chief commander of China's lunar probe project, and also silver-haired Sun Jiadong, chief designer of the project, wearing smiles and holding hands together tightly.
"It puts a successful end to the probe's long flight to the moon," Luan said.
"The satellite entered the designed working orbit just in time and very accurately today," said Sun, who has joined hands with Luan for more than a decade to develop, test and carry out the country's ambitious lunar probe project.
"The probe will travel along the orbit at a stable altitude of 200 km above the moon's surface. In each circle, it will always pass the two polars," said Wang Yejun, chief engineer of the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC).
The round orbit is also the final destination of the probe, where it is supposed to start carrying out all the planned scientific exploration tasks.
It was originally designed to stay on the orbit for one year, but a researcher estimated that fuel saved by smooth operations and precise maneuvers may prolong its life span.
Chang'e-1, named after a legendary Chinese goddess who flew to the moon, blasted off on a Long March 3A carrier rocket on Oct. 24 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwestern Sichuan Province.
Source: gordonblade@CDF

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