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| Steve Durst, founding director of ILOA, and Jun Yan, Director General of NAOC, after signing Memorandum of Understanding for collaboration on galaxy imaging from Chang'e-3 on the lunar surface [ILOA]. |
DC Space News Examiner
The International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA) in Hawaii has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Astronomical Observatories (NAOC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, to use a telescope on China‘s Chang'e-3 lunar lander, still planned for launch in 2013.
The MOU was signed during a ceremony that took place in Kamuela, Hawaii on Sept. 4.
“This science collaboration will be part of a mission that will conduct the first soft controlled landing of any spacecraft on the Moon in almost 40 years” the ILOA said in a statement on Friday.
"It will be the first ever program to conduct astronomical imaging from the lunar surface." ILOA Founding Director Steve Durst noted.
China’s NAOC is responsible for the ultraviolet lunar telescope onboard the Chang'e-3 lander, which will be operated by the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
The MOU was signed during a ceremony that took place in Kamuela, Hawaii on Sept. 4.
“This science collaboration will be part of a mission that will conduct the first soft controlled landing of any spacecraft on the Moon in almost 40 years” the ILOA said in a statement on Friday.
"It will be the first ever program to conduct astronomical imaging from the lunar surface." ILOA Founding Director Steve Durst noted.
China’s NAOC is responsible for the ultraviolet lunar telescope onboard the Chang'e-3 lander, which will be operated by the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
Related Posts:
Remote-operated Moon-based deep space telescope concept demonstrated in Hawai'i (July 26, 2012)
Will China deploy first lunar rover since 1976? (April 30, 2012)
SpaceDev flies prototype hybrid rocket lunar lander (December 20, 2007)
Other Chang'E-3 Related Posts, HERE.
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| Chang'e-3 lunar lander - stationary science platform illustrated together with planned remote-operated lunar rover may be deployed at Sinus Iridum in 2013 [Lunar Pioneer]. |
3 comments:
Wasn't "the first ever program to conduct astronomical imaging from the lunar surface" conducted during Apollo 16 with the Far UV Camera?
You are correct. The UV camera deployed in the shadow of the Lunar Module on that mission was the first such formal attempt, if I remember correctly.
I'm presently reviewing an article written on the Sub-Continent regarding Indo-Russian space efforts in the near future where the author refers to Roscosmos' planned vehicles for 2018 as "the first piloted spacecraft to travel to the Moon." Something may have been lost in translation, or in research, as they say... Or perhaps the author believes the Apollo missions were remote-controlled or pre-programmed. This last would, no doubt, be news to Jim Lovell of Apollo 13.
Good catch!
Yes, ILOA Honorary Director Commander John Young did conduct UV astronomical imaging during the Apollo 16 mission. Steve was misquoted as the statement should have read "the first ever program to conduct astronomical imaging of our Galaxy..."
Mahalo
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