Question: which of the following country has recently launched Chang’s-5 mission to the Moon for collecting material and taking back it to the earth?
a) Japan
b) China
c) South Korea
d) None of the above
Answer: (b)
Related Facts:
- On 24 November 2020; China has successfully launched Chang’e 5, its first unmanned space mission to the moon.
- This mission has been sent to the moon to collect samples of surface material, and return to earth.
- This is China’s maiden attempt to retrieve materials from an extra-terrestrial body.
- State-run CGTN reported on 24/11/2020 that China successfully launched the Chang’e-5 lunar probe from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the southern province of Hainan.
- The spacecraft was launched by a Long March-5 rocket at 4.30 am (Beijing Time).
- Chang’e-5, comprising an orbiter, a lander, an ascender and a returner, with a total take-off mass of 8.2 tonnes.
- It is expected to accomplish unmanned rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit.
- After it enters the lunar orbit, the lander-ascender combination will separate from the orbiter-returner combination.
- While the orbiter-returner orbits about 200 km above the lunar surface, the lander-ascender will touch down on the moon.
- State-run Xinhua news agency reported, it will land upon the northwest region of Oceanus Procellarum, at moon also known as the Ocean of Storms, in early December 2020.
- Within 48 hours, a robotic arm will be extended to scoop up rocks and regolith on the lunar surface, and a drill will bore into the ground.
- About 2 kg of samples are expected to be collected and sealed in a container in the spacecraft.
- Then the ascender will take off, and dock with the orbiter-returner in orbit.
- After the samples are transferred to the returner, the ascender will separate from the orbiter-returner.
- When the geometric relationship between Earth and the moon is suitable, the orbiter will carry the returner back to the planet.
- The returner will re-enter the atmosphere and land at the Siziwang Banner in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
By – Rajesh Tripathi
Links:-
https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/23/21594565/china-change-5-mission-lunar-sample-return-long-march-5-launch
https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/china-launches-ambitious-chang-e-5-mission-to-bring-back-rock-samples-from-moon-1743536-2020-11-24