Chinese Lunar Landing Imminent?

Back in 2002 the British-based Economist commented that although Chinese space stations and star treks may seem a remote possibility, the next moon landing could well be Chinese, since the Chinese people are noted for achieving their ambitions.

Predictions that China will be the third nation to make a moon landing have been rampant since the successful launch of China’s first manned spacecraft, Shenzhou V, in 2003. China announced its Chang’e lunar-probe in 2004, and detailed its projected lunar-landing in the white paper China’s Space Activities in 2006. It seems that the Chinese nation’s dream of a lunar landing might soon become reality.

Why Fly to the Moon?

The moon is perhaps the most evocative celestial body. China’s most well known moon legend is of Chang’e, wife of archer Houyi, who stole his pills of immortality and flew to the moon, thus consigning herself to eternal solitude. Chang’e’s lonely plight is commemorated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month -- the Mid-Autumn Festival -- a day for family reunions in China.

The Chinese people also have a scientific interest in the moon, but are not unanimous as to the benefits of a lunar probe and landing. Certain scholars deplore the exorbitant cost of such a plan; others ask why, in view of the United States and the former Soviet Union having already achieved a lunar landing, China should be so keen to be an inglorious number 3.

The investment in Chang’e I is a reported RMB 1.36 billion. Ouyang Ziyuan, chief scientist on the lunar probe project, says that this sum represents just a fraction of China’s GDP, and will have no adverse impact on the national economy. On the contrary, as the space project will promote development of high technologies it will bring economic benefits.

Luan Enjie, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering and chief commander of the lunar probe, says that the probe will seek to establish a scientific foundation for building human bases on the moon.

On a more practical level, the lunar probe could also provide much-needed new sources of energy. Ye Peijian, chief designer on the Chang’e I project, states, “There are more than 100 proven minerals on the moon, five of which are not found on the earth. Energy development in the foreseeable future will be mainly based on solar energy and nuclear fusion. If we can exploit lunar helium-3, it will supply terrestrial electricity for another 500 years, by the most conservative estimate.”

The Chang’e Project

Luan Enjie, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and chief commander of China's lunar probing mission. (Image: China Today)China’s lunar probe is in three phases. The first, spanning the period 2004-2007, entails a spacecraft that circles the moon for purposes of three-dimensional mapping, prospecting surface soil and chemical elements, and exploring earth-moon space. In the 2007-2012 second phase, wheeled rovers will land on the moon to study the lunar surface. In the 2012-2017 third phase, wheeled rovers will return to the earth, bringing back lunar surface samples. These three stages are simply coded "Circle," "Land" and "Return." When they have been completed, China hopes to launch a manned satellite to the moon between 2020 and 2025, and subsequently embark on the task of building a moon base.

The Chang’e I lunar orbit launch, planned for September 2007, is the prelude to China’ lunar probe, according to Zhang Yunchuan, director of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense. Zhang stresses the importance of launching Chang’e I at exactly the right time, when the angle between the earth, the moon and the sun ensures its entry into a smooth orbit.

The Chang’e I satellite will initially enter an oval geosynchronous orbit of a 500 km perigee and 70,000 km apogee. After one 26-hour orbit the satellite will accelerate into a 500 km perigee and 120,000 km apogee orbit that will take 48 hours to complete. It will then accelerate and head towards the moon. As it approaches the moon, 83 hours later, the satellite will decelerate by means of a reverse rocket thrust. Upon entering the moon’s field of gravity, 200km from its surface, the satellite will go into orbit where it will obtain three-dimensional images of the lunar surface. It will take 157 hours for the satellite to travel to the lunar orbit at a 384,400 km distance from earth.

Sun Laiyan, chief of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), has specified the Chang’e I mission’s four scientific objectives: to make a complete three-dimensional map of the moon; to analyze the chemical elements and distribution of substances on the lunar surface; to examine moon soil; and to explore the geo-lunar space environment.

“The project is advancing exclusively on Chinese expertise. All Chang’e I parts and components are products of its own research and development,” states chief scientist Ouyang Ziyuan. “Since lunar exploration is of particular significance to any nation, as regards military and energy resources, the US, Britain and Japan have also each allocated huge sums to their own lunar probes. India has stated its intention of achieving a manned lunar flight four years ahead of China. In such circumstances, obtaining overseas consultation and assistance in China's lunar-probe project has been virtually impossible.”

“About 10,000 people are involved in this project,” states Luan Enjie, chief commander of the moon orbiting project. “China started from scratch, and after three years of efforts has developed Chang’e I lunar orbiter and all its attendant projects. The speed at which it has caught up with the necessary technology is impressive by anyone’s standards.”

Chang’e I reportedly uses 24 world-advanced scientific instruments in six sets. They include a CCD three-dimensional camera, orbiter laser altimeter, imaging spectrometer, gamma/X-ray spectrometer, microwave detector, solar energetic particle detector, and low-energy ion detector.

How Far off Is a Manned Lunar Landing?

The news emerged this year that China is to build a satellite launch base in Hainan Province that will go into operation before 2010. American space experts predict that completion of the new launch base will increase the thrust of China’s Long March series and new super-thrust rockets by 10 percent. The Long March series carrier rockets will be capable of carrying manned spacecraft either to the moon in order to build a lunar base -- or to outer space to build a permanent space station.

But the question being asked by all concerned onlookers is, will the three unmanned Chang'e orbiters, if lauched successfully, make it possible for Chinese astronauts to make a moon landing?

China must develop super-thrust, multiple ignition carrier rockets in order for its spacecraft to travel the long distance and carry a large payload. Luan Enjie estimates that a lunar landing requires a 3,000-4,000-ton rocket thrust; the current maximum thrust is only 600 tons. China will develop new-generation carrier rockets -- the Long March V series -- capable of launching a space station in the coming seven to eight years.

The two main challenges to be met in order for astronauts to leave the spacecraft are those of developing airlock modules and spacesuits, the latter being the prime priority. The temperature variable on the moon’s surface is as much as 300 degrees Centigrade, and the level of radiation is extreme. The spacesuits currently worn by Chinese astronauts are not equal to the degree of protection necessary for astronauts to survive a lunar landing, explains Liang Xingang, a professor at the Tsinghua University. “As outer space is a vacuum, spacesuits must be capable of maintaining a constant temperature and enduring high pressure. Any leakage would be fatal.

“Under ideal conditions of ample funds that guarantee no delays in launching the project, China could send manned spacecraft to the moon within 15 years,” estimates Huang Chunping, leader of the advisory group of China’s manned rocket plan.

The Chang’e Project Chronicle

1991: Chinese space experts raise the proposal of a lunar probe project.

1998: The Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense commences its official lunar probe project plan and demonstration.

November 2000: The Chinese government white paper laying out the lunar probe plan and demonstration states that China will carry out deep space exploration with the lunar probe as its main task.

January 2004: The State Council approves the "Circle"-stage lunar probe project.

February 2004: The lunar probe is named the Chang’e Project.
2006: Chang’e I satellite and carrier rockets enter production.