China has some cool plans for the moon! They have revealed how their moon probe, named Chang’e-7, is going to look for water-ice near the south pole of the moon.
And guess what? It’s going to be helped by a hopping detector.
First things first, let’s talk about their timeline. China is gearing up to send the Chang’e-6 to land on the moon in 2024. Its main job is to collect samples from the far side of the moon.
After this, around 2026, they plan to launch the Chang’e-7 probe. This mission is especially exciting because it aims to explore the resources available at the moon’s south pole.
So, what is the main plan with Chang’e-7? Well, the mission wants to look from space and also directly on the moon’s surface to find out more about lunar water-ice.
They want to know where this ice comes from, how much of it is there, and where it’s located. All of this info came from a research article in the journal called Space: Science & Technology.
Now, here’s the exciting part! The team behind this mission, which includes experts from the National Space Science Center and the China Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center, shared a glimpse of their unique tools.
They have designed a mini-flying probe with a special instrument that can find water molecules on the moon’s surface.
Here’s how it will work: The mini-flying probe will launch from a spot where there’s sunlight on the moon. It will then head to the dark bottom of a moon crater. After reaching there, it will use a drilling tool to get some lunar soil.
This sample will then be put inside a furnace for testing. They want to see if this soil has any water or other materials like ammonia.
You might wonder, why a flying probe? That’s because traditional moon rovers can’t easily go to the bottom of craters. This flying detector will help them access hard-to-reach places.
By testing the soil there, scientists can learn if there’s water hidden in these dark spots.
The Chang’e-7 won’t be alone in this quest. There will also be two other scientific tools on an orbiter. These tools will study water-ice from a distance, while floating around the moon.
But why is finding water on the moon so important? If humans plan to stay on the moon or go further into space, they will need water.
It’s essential for life and can also be used as fuel for rockets. Although there are hints that the moon might have water-ice, no one is sure about its origin. This is why the Chang’e-7 mission is super important.
China doesn’t stop at Chang’e-7. They have bigger dreams! By 2028, they aim to launch Chang’e-8. This mission will try out experiments using lunar resources and will also lay the foundation for the International Lunar Research Station.
In simple words, China is on a fascinating journey to the moon. They are not just looking to explore; they want to understand, utilize, and pave the way for future space missions.
It’s like unlocking the next level in a space game, and we’re all eager to see what they discover!
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