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HELSINKI – China’s Chang’e-5 orbiter is heading to a gravitationally stable point in space on an extended mission after delivering new lunar samples to Earth.
The spacecraft is now heading to a Sun-Earth Lagrange point to make observations of the local environment, the Sun, and conduct operational tests.
The Chang’e-5 orbiter left lunar orbit at the end of December 12 in the east along with a return capsule containing lunar samples. The two spacecraft parted about 5,000 kilometers from Earth on December 16, and the return capsule made a “jump” re-entry into the atmosphere. The return capsule landed at 12:59 p.m. EST on December 16 with 1,731 kilograms of lunar materials.
Meanwhile, the orbiter had performed an avoidance burn. It was not initially clear whether the avoidance burn was referring to avoiding the return capsule or Earth’s atmosphere.
Amateur radio operators First confirmed that the Chang’e-5 orbiter was still in space and Vault to the moon. Official confirmation on the status of the spacecraft has now been provided.
Hu Hao, chief designer of the third phase (sample return) of the Chinese lunar exploration program, told China Central Television (ChineseOn December 20 the orbiter is now on an extended mission to a Sun-Earth Lagrange point.
Hu said the extended mission was made possible by the precise orbital injection of the March 5 long launch vehicle, the same rocket that failed in July 2017 and delayed the Chang’e-5 for three years. The Chang’e-5 orbiter has more than 200 kilograms of propellant left for future maneuvers.
Although not specified, the Chang’e-5 orbiter is believed to enter orbit around L1, based on reference to planned solar observations. The orbiter is equipped with optical cameras.
The team will decide another destination after the tests and observations have been made, Hu said.
Chang’e Mission Extensions
Chang’e-2, who orbited and mapped the moon in 2010, later visited the Lagrangian point L2 Earth-Sun to test tracking and ground networks. It then made a flyby of asteroid 4179 Toutatis.
The 2014 Chang’e-5 T1 mission orbiter to test a return capsule reentry also received an extended mission after performing its main duties. That spacecraft entered a halo orbit around the Earth-moon Lagrange point 2, taking pictures of the Earth and the moon, but also indicating that China may be lining up an unprecedented lunar landing on the far side with the Chang spacecraft. ‘e-4, then a backup used for the successful Chang’e-3. CE5-T1 also imaged the candidate landing sites for the Chang’e-5 mission itself.
Possible future scenarios for the Chang’e-5 orbiter could include visiting Sun-Earth points L4 or L5. These triangular libration points are more stable than the other three points and could host near-Earth objects. The imagers could be used to survey the region for speculated ground Trojan asteroid objects.
These objects would coorbit with the Earth but would be 60 degrees ahead (L4) or behind (L5) the planet. In October 2021, NASA will launch LUCY, a first mission to visit the Jupiter Trojans.
A paper presented to the 2018 International Astronautical Congress suggested that Queqiao, the relay satellite that facilitates far-side Earth-lunar communications for the Chang’e-4 mission, could be sent after the primary mission to Earth-moon L4 or L5 to a similar study, citing great value to astronomers and engineers.
Meanwhile, on Earth, the reentry capsule has moved to Beijing. The container containing the lunar samples was delivered to the Chinese Academy of Sciences prior to preparation, analysis and storage in a specially constructed facility.
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