16.6 Summary
549
Limited by technology development status at that time, there were only few instruments. But the successful exploration of those instruments provided valuable information for engineers and scientists, which was also important for humankind to know
more about the Moon.
The Chang’E-3 lunar lander was the first spacecraft that was softly landed on
extraterrestrial body in China. There were four scientific instruments on the Chang’E3 lunar lander, including descent camera, morphology camera, LUT and EUV
camera, which could perform in situ investigation of Lunar surface, imaging of Earth
plasmasphere and lunar-based astronomy observation. There were also 3 monitoring
cameras and one lunar dust detector, which could monitor deployment of the lunar
rover and measure the floating lunar dust and its accumulation. All the instruments
should adapt to flight environments, such as mechanics, heat, vacuum and radiation, as well as the target features. When the instruments were designed, above
factors should be comprehensively considered. In order to confirm the correctness of
instrument design, conventional environment tests such as mechanics, thermal and
vacuum should be conducted, as well as calibration and special tests to confirm that
the instruments could obtain anticipated exploration data under specific environment,
and implement designed function and performance.
In subsequent missions to the Moon or Mars, more attention will be paid
to\lightweight, miniaturization, low power consumption and high performance of the
instruments to implement more exploration. The type of instruments will be diversified. For example, small camera can investigate the terrain. Descent camera can
help to monitor descent process. Ray spectrometer can investigate chemical element,
optical spectrometer for mineral composition investigation, mass spectrometer for
gas composition investigation, radar for soil structure, force gauge for mechanical
properties, and so on.
References
1. Chu G, Zhang H (2007) Technology of lunar probes. China Science and Technology Press,
Beijing
2. Ouyang Z (2005) Introduction to Lunar Science. China Astronautic Publishing House, Beijing
3. Chu G, Shijun MA (2002) Introduction to astronautic technology. China Astronautic Publishing
House, Beijing
4. Tan W, Hu J (2009) Spacecraft system engineering. China Science and Technology Press,
Beijing
5. Peng C (2011) Spacecraft system design. China Science and Technology Press, Beijing
6. Ouyang Z (2004) Scientific objectives of Chinese Lunar Exploration Project and development
strategy. Adv Earth Sci 19(3):351–355
7. Ouyang, Z (2005) Review of lunar exploration and introduction of Chinese Lunar Exploration
Project. Chinese J Nat 27(4):187–190
8. Ye P, Sun Z, Rao W (2007) Research and development of Chang’E-1. Spacecraft Eng 16(6):9–
15
9. Jet Propulsion Laboratory (1966) Surveyor 1 Mission Report:Part I. Mission description and
performance. California Institute of Technology
10. Jet Propulsion Laboratory (1967) Surveyor 2 Mission Report. California Institute of Technology
549
Limited by technology development status at that time, there were only few instruments. But the successful exploration of those instruments provided valuable information for engineers and scientists, which was also important for humankind to know
more about the Moon.
The Chang’E-3 lunar lander was the first spacecraft that was softly landed on
extraterrestrial body in China. There were four scientific instruments on the Chang’E3 lunar lander, including descent camera, morphology camera, LUT and EUV
camera, which could perform in situ investigation of Lunar surface, imaging of Earth
plasmasphere and lunar-based astronomy observation. There were also 3 monitoring
cameras and one lunar dust detector, which could monitor deployment of the lunar
rover and measure the floating lunar dust and its accumulation. All the instruments
should adapt to flight environments, such as mechanics, heat, vacuum and radiation, as well as the target features. When the instruments were designed, above
factors should be comprehensively considered. In order to confirm the correctness of
instrument design, conventional environment tests such as mechanics, thermal and
vacuum should be conducted, as well as calibration and special tests to confirm that
the instruments could obtain anticipated exploration data under specific environment,
and implement designed function and performance.
In subsequent missions to the Moon or Mars, more attention will be paid
to\lightweight, miniaturization, low power consumption and high performance of the
instruments to implement more exploration. The type of instruments will be diversified. For example, small camera can investigate the terrain. Descent camera can
help to monitor descent process. Ray spectrometer can investigate chemical element,
optical spectrometer for mineral composition investigation, mass spectrometer for
gas composition investigation, radar for soil structure, force gauge for mechanical
properties, and so on.
References
1. Chu G, Zhang H (2007) Technology of lunar probes. China Science and Technology Press,
Beijing
2. Ouyang Z (2005) Introduction to Lunar Science. China Astronautic Publishing House, Beijing
3. Chu G, Shijun MA (2002) Introduction to astronautic technology. China Astronautic Publishing
House, Beijing
4. Tan W, Hu J (2009) Spacecraft system engineering. China Science and Technology Press,
Beijing
5. Peng C (2011) Spacecraft system design. China Science and Technology Press, Beijing
6. Ouyang Z (2004) Scientific objectives of Chinese Lunar Exploration Project and development
strategy. Adv Earth Sci 19(3):351–355
7. Ouyang, Z (2005) Review of lunar exploration and introduction of Chinese Lunar Exploration
Project. Chinese J Nat 27(4):187–190
8. Ye P, Sun Z, Rao W (2007) Research and development of Chang’E-1. Spacecraft Eng 16(6):9–
15
9. Jet Propulsion Laboratory (1966) Surveyor 1 Mission Report:Part I. Mission description and
performance. California Institute of Technology
10. Jet Propulsion Laboratory (1967) Surveyor 2 Mission Report. California Institute of Technology