tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6717506789759388697.post8416158037089111673..comments2024-03-12T21:13:38.994+00:00Comments on Lunar Pioneer: Chang'e-3 launch window opens 1 December 1730 UTJoel Raupehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10479149035458870955noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6717506789759388697.post-79804195749346960702013-11-30T05:16:21.083+00:002013-11-30T05:16:21.083+00:00"After Chang'e-3, China plans at least tw..."After Chang'e-3, China plans at least two additional unmanned lunar missions designed to retrieve samples, Chang'e 4 in 2015 and Chang'e 5 in 2018."<br /><br />Not quite. Chang'e 4 in about 2015 is another rover like CE 3, a backup if this one fails, or a second mission if it doesn't (like CE 2 for CE 1). The sample returns are CE 5 and CE 6 - two missions in each of the three stages. Only one area was imaged at high resolution (1.5 m/pixel) by CE 2, the Sinus Iridum area, and it seems likely that all four landers will go to the same area. It's not redundant - there are two very different mare units in the target zone, so we will probably have one rover mission in each unit and then one sample return in each unit.<br /><br />Phil Stookenoreply@blogger.com