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#1 2019-11-14 08:22:04

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 16,749

Chinese Unmanned Probes

https://www.yahoo.com/news/china-comple … 13488.html

This test was conducted in a large outdoor structure designed to simulate Mars gravity.

This topic is offered for those who find additional news about the 2020 mission, or related reports.

The director of China's NASA equivalent is Zhang Kejian.  He was born in 1961.

A quick Google search brought up a Wikipedia article, and a mention of his inclusion in the list by Time.com of "2019 Time 100 list"

SearchTerm:ChinaUnmannedProbe
SearchTerm:ChineseUnmannedProbe

(th)

Last edited by tahanson43206 (2020-05-25 06:39:05)

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#2 2019-11-14 17:33:15

louis
Member
From: UK
Registered: 2008-03-24
Posts: 7,208

Re: Chinese Unmanned Probes

https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/china … 0-mission/

That testing gear looks like a good way of using up your budget NASA-style!

Definitely not the Space X way.

China does plan to send humans to Mars "in the long term":

https://metro.co.uk/2019/11/05/china-wa … -11047220/

That should be of concern to everyone who wants an open society on Mars.  This is nothing against the Chinese as Chinese - I'd be very happy to see Chinese from Hong Kong and Taiwan on Mars: it is everything to do with the political system that rules mainland China.


Let's Go to Mars...Google on: Fast Track to Mars blogspot.com

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#3 2019-11-14 17:37:20

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 28,747

Re: Chinese Unmanned Probes

Well they did land on the dark side of the moon and the rover has been able to wake up and move each new lunar day...

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#4 2020-05-25 06:38:10

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 16,749

Re: Chinese Unmanned Probes

The article at the link below updates the status of the Chinese plan to catch the July Hohmann window to Mars.

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/chin … 03384.html

The expedition will (apparently) include an orbital component and a lander/rover.  Since China has done neither of these before, I am going to be quite interested to see if they can pull either or perhaps both off successfully.

The article also mentions the US plan for Perseverance.

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/chin … 03384.html

(th)

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#5 2020-07-17 19:26:55

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 16,749

Re: Chinese Unmanned Probes

Here's another update on the Chinese Mars probe ...

The vehicle is being set up at the launch site.  According to the article, it will be their largest vehicle, which has had three test flights. This will be the first with a payload.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/china-moves- … 28764.html

(th)

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#6 2020-09-05 19:26:23

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 28,747

Re: Chinese Unmanned Probes

Mars-bound Tianwen 1 hits milestone

China's Tianwen 1 Mars probe had traveled 100 million kilometers as of Friday morning, according to the China National Space Administration. The robotic probe had flown about 36 days in an Earth-Mars transfer trajectory toward the red planet, around 10.75 million km from Earth. China launched Tianwen 1, the country's first independent Mars mission, on July 23 from Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province, thus beginning the nation's planetary exploration program.

If everything goes according to schedule, the 5-metric ton Tianwen 1, which consists of two major parts-an orbiter and landing capsule-will travel more than 470 million km before getting captured by the Martian gravitational field in February.

The mission's ultimate goal is to soft-land a rover around May 2021 on the southern part of Mars' Utopia Planitia, a large plain within Utopia-the largest recognized impact basin in the solar system-to make scientific surveys, the administration said.

Weighing about 240 kilograms, the rover, which has yet to be named, has six wheels and four solar panels and is able to move 200 meters per hour on Mars. It carries six scientific instruments including multispectral cameras, ground-penetrating radar and a meteorological measuring device, and is expected to carry out three months of surface explorations on the planet.

If the highly autonomous machine functions well, it will become mankind's fifth rover deployed on Mars, following its four predecessors from the United States.

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#7 2020-09-25 13:32:16

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 16,749

Re: Chinese Unmanned Probes

Here's an update from the Chinese Lunar probe.

The article at the link below (by Marcia Dunn) reports that readings of radiation on the surface match up well with readings taken by orbiting satellites.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/measurements … 48388.html

A quote near the end of the article caught my eye .... apparently Europeans have recommended 80 cm of regolith for radiation shielding over a shelter, but NOT more!  I was intrigued to see that GCR arrivals will generate ** more ** radiation if the shield is more thick than that.

For RobertDyck if you happen to catch this post .... please see if these results add any value to your planning for radiation protection for the Large Ship.

(th)

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#8 2020-10-02 21:00:10

Oldfart1939
Member
Registered: 2016-11-26
Posts: 2,366

Re: Chinese Unmanned Probes

Chinese plans: Origen Space, and space mining.

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/20 … g-with-or/

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#9 2020-10-03 17:30:44

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 28,747

Re: Chinese Unmanned Probes

China has continued to build up its technology to not only get to orbit but stay as its gaining on its station capabilities. Their goal isn't to just go but to go further not to but a biggest station.

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#10 2020-10-06 05:40:39

Forrest White
Banned
Registered: 2020-10-05
Posts: 6

Re: Chinese Unmanned Probes

I am glad to find out that in today's rapidly developing world we have a possibility to reach the space and even build some kind of life on other planets. Some of the commercial companies have already pronounced the approximate price for space flight. But sending a human to space is not the only important thing. It is also needed to send cargo to ISS and future colonized planet.  British space exploration company Skyrora represents a new breed of private rocket companies developing the next generation of launch vehicles for the burgeoning small satellite market https://www.skyrora.com/.


Edit admin:
Continue Skyrora British space small launcher here

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#11 2020-10-06 07:04:57

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 16,749

Re: Chinese Unmanned Probes

For Forrest White re #10

Your post is interesting and it deserves to be posted in the appropriate topic.

For SpaceNut ... please set up a topic for British Unmanned Probes (or whatever you consider suitable) and move Forrest's post there.

Forrest, we have a number of members who live in England.  If you are interested in taking on development of a topic devoted to English/British space developments, it is possible you might find your efforts supported by others.

The notable effort to try to land a probe on Mars stands out in my mind as worthy of a post in the new topic.  Eventually the remains of that probe will be found by explorers on Mars, and hopefully a small museum will be constructed to preserve and celebrate the attempt.

Edit#1: For SpaceNut ... I ran searches for "british" "english" and "united kingdom" on topics and found no matches.

Edit#2: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beagle_2

Let's keep this topic tightly focused on the Chinese probes.  They have a very successful probe on the back side of the Moon, and they have another ambitious probe headed for Mars, in addition to whatever is still in Earth orbit from their earlier launches.

(th)

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#12 2020-10-19 08:29:52

Calliban
Member
From: Northern England, UK
Registered: 2019-08-18
Posts: 3,352

Re: Chinese Unmanned Probes

Interesting article, if somewhat unpalatable.
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/ … st-economy

As the Chinese economy continues to grow, the disparity will only grow greater.  It does suggest that the future Martian Republic is likely to be a Chinese colony.  The west is going to be an increasingly marginal player, for the simple reason that the population of Asia is so much greater than the western world.  It would help if we weren't so encumbered by toxic political idealism.


"Plan and prepare for every possibility, and you will never act. It is nobler to have courage as we stumble into half the things we fear than to analyse every possible obstacle and begin nothing. Great things are achieved by embracing great dangers."

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#13 2020-10-19 09:26:12

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 16,749

Re: Chinese Unmanned Probes

For Calliban re #12

Thanks very much for providing the link to that article about the changes of geopolitical status of the United States vs China.  I had been exposed to the argument about evaluation of an economy before, so I was prepared for the consequences of the substitution of PPP for MER, but never-the-less, I was taken aback by how far the imbalance has shifted.

It is (for me at least) painful to recognize the transition from dominant global player to mere also-ran, but unless some dramatic changes occur, President Xi's vision is likely to bear fruit, and your prediction of a Chinese dominance of Mars seems possible.  I am not yet ready to accept that the Chinese ** will ** establish a framework for other nations to adopt for life on Mars, but it definitely ** is ** possible.

(th)

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#14 2020-10-19 10:31:13

kbd512
Administrator
Registered: 2015-01-02
Posts: 7,361

Re: Chinese Unmanned Probes

Calliban,

America can manipulate our currency to show any amount of growth you find most pleasing.  When at least half the people in your country still don't have access to a toilet, you are not a super power.  Much as it is here in America, mind blowing amounts of wealth are concentrated in the hands of a few people.  Beyond that, entire cities full of their workers will be in the old folks home in a few short years.  Why do people with no understanding of economics or demographics make so many assertions that deviate so wildly from objective reality?

tahanson43206,

President Trump is trying to make those dramatic changes, but the people who benefit from the current system of wealth transfer to China, such as former Vice President Biden, are fighting him every step of the way.  Everything President Trump has stated about what America should do, with regard to trade deals and manufacturing, is spot on correct.  Unfortunately, people don't like the messenger, so they refuse to listen to the message.

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#15 2020-10-19 17:49:21

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 16,749

Re: Chinese Unmanned Probes

Gents ... this topic is about Chinese Unmanned Probes ...

On the other hand, the topic you have launched is quite interesting (to me at least) and I hope SpaceNut can find a proper home for it.

SpaceNut ... when you have a topic to suggest for interesting new branch, I have a report to contribute.

(th)

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#16 2020-11-23 15:07:13

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 28,747

Re: Chinese Unmanned Probes

The closing line covers this topics discusion

It appears that snubbing china back then has turned into a bonus for china...
China prepping for mission to bring back material from moon

While the U.S. has followed China’s successes closely, it’s unlikely to cooperate with China in space amid political suspicions, a sharpening military rivalry and accusations of Chinese theft of technology, experts say.

“A change in U.S. policy regarding space cooperation is unlikely to get much government attention in the near future,” Johnson-Freese said.

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#17 2020-11-29 18:46:46

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 28,747

Re: Chinese Unmanned Probes

China's Chang'e 5 enters lunar orbit for historic attempt to return moon samples
The only samples collected by the U.S. Apollo and Soviet Luna missions are all over 3 billion years old and were accomplished so long ago.

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#18 2020-12-05 14:35:27

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 28,747

Re: Chinese Unmanned Probes

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chang'e_5

The mission should have landed and collected its samples for a return flight date of Dec 16 which will be historic as only the US & Russia are. The only current countries to have done so.

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#19 2020-12-06 13:27:18

GW Johnson
Member
From: McGregor, Texas USA
Registered: 2011-12-04
Posts: 5,423
Website

Re: Chinese Unmanned Probes

Last I saw,  the sample ascent vehicle departed the surface successfully and was supposed to rendezvous with the return vehicle in lunar orbit.  I haven't seen much since,  although it should be on its way home by now,  if all that was successful.  Anybody else heard anything?

GW


GW Johnson
McGregor,  Texas

"There is nothing as expensive as a dead crew,  especially one dead from a bad management decision"

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#20 2020-12-06 21:58:50

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 28,747

Re: Chinese Unmanned Probes

Chang'e 5 mission completes difficult docking in lunar orbitchange-5-moon-mission-docking-lunar-orbit-artwork-hg.jpg

The rendezvous and docking took place between the probe's ascender and reentry capsule without external assistance from navigation satellites.

The ascender then delivered into the reentry capsule a sealed container holding 2 kilograms of lunar rocks and soil, according to China National Space Administration.

The operation was the first automated rendezvous and docking for a spacecraft in lunar orbit.

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#21 2020-12-07 20:52:51

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 28,747

Re: Chinese Unmanned Probes

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#22 2020-12-16 18:46:36

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 28,747

Re: Chinese Unmanned Probes

well Chinese have done it... China Moon Mission Brings Lunar Rocks to Earth, and New Competition to Space

BB1bYZR1.img?h=450&w=799&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=755&y=708

The country’s Chang’e-5 spacecraft gathered as much as 4.4 pounds of lunar samples from a volcanic plain known as Mons Rümker in a three-week operation that underlined China’s growing prowess and ambition in space.China is eager to flaunt its technical skills and explore the solar system.

Like the United States, its broader goal is to establish a lunar base that could exploit its potential resources and serve as a launching pad for more ambitious missions.

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#23 2020-12-19 14:55:38

SpaceNut
Administrator
From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 28,747

Re: Chinese Unmanned Probes

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#24 2021-04-25 06:06:13

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 16,749

Re: Chinese Unmanned Probes

For Quaoar .... Way down in the fine print of this article, there is a hint that Italy will participate in this Lunar probe.

Perhaps your vision of Italian participation in a probe to Mars will come to pass.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/official-chi … 4685.html+

Official: China's moon probe will carry French, Russian gear

Sun, April 25, 2021 1:39 AM
BEIJING (AP) — China will launch its next robot lunar lander in 2024, and it will carry equipment from France, Sweden, Russia and Italy, the official news agency reported.

Plans call for Chang’e 6 to land near the lunar south pole and collect samples for return to Earth, the program’s chief designer, Hu Hao, said at a conference Saturday, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

The Chang’e landers are part of Chinese space exploration efforts that also include a probe that is preparing to land a robot rover on Mars. There are also plans for a crewed orbital station, landing a human on the moon and retrieving soil from an asteroid.

In December, the previous moon probe, Chang’e 5, returned lunar rocks to Earth for the first time since the 1970s.

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#25 2021-05-15 15:01:41

tahanson43206
Moderator
Registered: 2018-04-27
Posts: 16,749

Re: Chinese Unmanned Probes

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/tian … 22461.html

A replica of the Tianwen-1 Mars rover is displayed during an exhibition inside the National Museum in Beijing, China March 3, 2021. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang

Richard Lawler·Senior News Editor
Fri, May 14, 2021 8:52 PM
Last summer the China National Space Administration launched its Tianwen-1 mission to Mars, and today the country's news agencies like Xinhua and CGTN report the probe has landed. The mission consists of an orbiter, lander and a golf-cart sized rover.

Does anyone in the Forum see brushes to clean the solar panels on that rig?

After all the published experience of the Americans, I cannot understand why the Chinese engineers would not have included cleaning capability in their vehicle.

Perhaps the cleaning equipment is hidden from view?

(th)

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