By Xinhua | June 28, 2024 | 08:32
The return module of the Chang’e-6 lunar probe is opened during a ceremony at the China Academy of Space Technology, under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, in Beijing, capital of China, June 26 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
China is willing to expand its international collaboration in upcoming lunar exploration efforts, following the successful operation of payloads by the European Space Agency (ESA), France, Italy and Pakistan on the recently concluded Chang’e mission. -6.
China’s Chang’e-7 lunar exploration mission will carry six international scientific instruments and Chang’e-8 will offer 200 kilograms of international payload capacity, for which it has received more than 30 applications, said Liu Yunfeng, deputy director of the department. of international cooperation of the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
The Chang’e-7 mission, scheduled to launch in 2026, is intended to explore the lunar south pole region. The Chang’e-8 probe will be launched around 2028 to carry out experiments on the utilization of lunar resources and, together with Chang’e-7, form the basic model of an international lunar research station by 2035.
The CNSA has signed cooperation documents with more than ten countries and international organizations on the International Lunar Research Station project, Liu said at a press conference on Thursday.
In the Chang’e-6 mission, China has fulfilled its commitment to allocate 10 kilograms of payload capacity on the lander and another 10 kilograms on the orbiter for international cooperation, Hu Hao, chief designer of the Chang’e-6 mission, said at the conference.
According to Liu, the mission’s international collaboration efforts have gone well. The French DORN payload worked for 32 hours and the ESA NILS payload worked for three hours and 50 minutes on the lunar surface.
Liu also stated that the Italian laser retroreflector, installed on top of the lander, functioned normally.
China on May 10 handed over to Pakistan data provided by a CubeSat aboard its Chang’e-6 spacecraft. The cube satellite, ICUBE-Q, was developed by Pakistan’s Institute of Space Technology and Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
“Despite differences in language, work culture and development protocols, we have worked hand in hand to conduct a comprehensive series of tests over the past year and more, and have successfully completed the task,” Hu said.
“This invaluable experience can enrich our knowledge and prepare us to tackle even more sophisticated tasks in the future,” Hu added.
(Web editor: Rosa Liu, Zhao Jian)
