Chapter 16
Scientific Instrument Technology
of Lunar Lander
16.1 Introduction
The scientific instrument of the lunar lander was the instrument for scientific or
engineering exploration [1, 2].
In term of different objectives, the scientific instruments can be classified as scientific payload or engineering payload. The scientific payload can acquire scientific data
and its objective is to acquire the characteristics of objects interested by scientists.
The engineering payload can acquire interested engineering data including environment and status, and its objective is to acquire interested engineering data to improve
engineering design or support for successful engineering implementation.
In term of exploration method, scientific instrument can be classified into direct
sensing instrument and remote sensing instrument. The direct sensing instrument
can touch the target by sensors directly to acquire status property of the target to be
studied. The remote sensing instrument can study the target status such as light and
electromagnetic wave by sensors, which is an indirect way.
In deep space exploration, there are direct sensing instruments such as high-energy
particle detector, low-energy charged particles detector, ion detector, dust detect
and magnetometer, remote sensing instruments such as radio astronomy instrument,
optical imager, polariscope, photometer, infrared radiometer, microwave radar and
laser radar. In the scientific instruments of the Chang’E-3 lunar lander, there were
remote sensing instruments including descent camera, lunar terrain camera, lunarbased ultraviolet telescope, extreme ultraviolet camera and monitoring camera, as
well as direct sensing instrument such as lunar dust detector.
In this chapter, the typical instruments and their achievements in lunar landers
of the United States and the Soviet Union are introduced. The requirements for
scientific instruments of the Chang’E-3 lunar lander are analyzed. The design of
scientific instruments on the Chang’E-3 lunar lander is introduced, as well as special
tests and test methodology for the instruments such as calibration.
© National Defense Industry Press and Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
D.-Y. Yu et al., Technology of Lunar Soft Lander, Space Technology Library 38,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6580-9_16
517
Scientific Instrument Technology
of Lunar Lander
16.1 Introduction
The scientific instrument of the lunar lander was the instrument for scientific or
engineering exploration [1, 2].
In term of different objectives, the scientific instruments can be classified as scientific payload or engineering payload. The scientific payload can acquire scientific data
and its objective is to acquire the characteristics of objects interested by scientists.
The engineering payload can acquire interested engineering data including environment and status, and its objective is to acquire interested engineering data to improve
engineering design or support for successful engineering implementation.
In term of exploration method, scientific instrument can be classified into direct
sensing instrument and remote sensing instrument. The direct sensing instrument
can touch the target by sensors directly to acquire status property of the target to be
studied. The remote sensing instrument can study the target status such as light and
electromagnetic wave by sensors, which is an indirect way.
In deep space exploration, there are direct sensing instruments such as high-energy
particle detector, low-energy charged particles detector, ion detector, dust detect
and magnetometer, remote sensing instruments such as radio astronomy instrument,
optical imager, polariscope, photometer, infrared radiometer, microwave radar and
laser radar. In the scientific instruments of the Chang’E-3 lunar lander, there were
remote sensing instruments including descent camera, lunar terrain camera, lunarbased ultraviolet telescope, extreme ultraviolet camera and monitoring camera, as
well as direct sensing instrument such as lunar dust detector.
In this chapter, the typical instruments and their achievements in lunar landers
of the United States and the Soviet Union are introduced. The requirements for
scientific instruments of the Chang’E-3 lunar lander are analyzed. The design of
scientific instruments on the Chang’E-3 lunar lander is introduced, as well as special
tests and test methodology for the instruments such as calibration.
© National Defense Industry Press and Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
D.-Y. Yu et al., Technology of Lunar Soft Lander, Space Technology Library 38,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6580-9_16
517