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China to collect first moon rocks since 1970s - Printable Version

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China to collect first moon rocks since 1970s - Kyng - 11-23-2020

China https://www.npr.org/2020/11/22/937786631/china-moon-mission-will-try-to-bring-back-the-first-lunar-rocks-in-decades Moon

China is planning to launch an uncrewed spacecraft to the moon on Tuesday, which will shovel up lunar rocks soil and bring them back to Earth. If successful, it would be the first time any country has retrieved samples from the moon in more than 40 years.

The mission, called Chang'e-5, is part of a series of complex trips to the moon by the China National Space Administration (CNSA). In January 2019, China landed a spacecraft on the far side of the moon — something that had never been done before. If successful, China will be only the third country ever to have retrieved samples from the moon, following the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1960s and 1970s.

The spacecraft is expected to launch from Wenchang Space Launch Center on Hainan Island, China, early Tuesday local time, which will be about 3:25 p.m. ET on Monday, according to Space Launch Now, a site that tracks rocket launches around the world.



I have to admit, I'm surprised we haven't brought back any moon rocks in over 40 years. Then again, the USA brought back over 2,000 samples - so, it's not like there's been a pressing need for any more :P .

If this mission is successful, then I wonder whether its moon rocks will be any different from the ones already here?


RE: China to collect first moon rocks since 1970s - GrieferLord - 11-23-2020

i think the trip is more to determine areas suitable for mining operations. could be just looking at the composition more than anything. plus we reusable rockets being a thing we can continue to make cheaper and cheaper methods to get into space. next step will be clearing the massive debris field in our orbit.


RE: China to collect first moon rocks since 1970s - Kyng - 11-23-2020

(11-23-2020, 04:41 AM)GrieferLord Wrote: i think the trip is more to determine areas suitable for mining operations. could be just looking at the composition more than anything. plus we reusable rockets being a thing we can continue to make cheaper and cheaper methods to get into space. next step will be clearing the massive debris field in our orbit.

Ah, that would make sense, then.

I still think lunar mining is some way off, but it probably pays to get a head-start on it for when the time comes :P .


RE: China to collect first moon rocks since 1970s - GrieferLord - 11-24-2020

find the best deposits so you can exploit them first, hopefully such an endeavor will be far more cooperative by then but i dont count on it.


RE: China to collect first moon rocks since 1970s - Emerald - 11-24-2020

It will be interesting to see what they bring back and how 'moon rocks' compare to our rocks.


RE: China to collect first moon rocks since 1970s - Kyng - 12-01-2020

Well, this mission has touched down successfully on the lunar surface:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55148998

Let's hope the rest of the mission goes according to plan as well :) !


RE: China to collect first moon rocks since 1970s - Emerald - 12-01-2020

Good luck to them all - exciting times!


RE: China to collect first moon rocks since 1970s - Kyng - 12-05-2020

Now that this mission has landed, China has become the second nation to raise its flag on the moon, after the USA:




Honestly doesn't look very flag-like to me :lol: . The American flag certainly looked like a flag, but this looks like a piece of card stuck to the end of a pole or something :P .