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LANDING SITEMons Rumker
LAT43.06°
LON-51.92°
MOON
Dec 1, 2020
LANDING DATE
2020
23 days (total mission)
MISSION DURATION
TOTAL
-150 to 120 C
SURFACE TEMP
AT LANDING SITE
8,200
KG
MASS
5
INSTRUMENTS
SCIENTIFIC PAYLOAD
Chang’e 5 is a sample return lander mission by CNSA on Moon. Landed December 1, 2020. Landing site: Mons Rumker.
ABOUT CHANG’E 5
Chang’e 5 was the first mission to return lunar samples to Earth since the Soviet Luna 24 in 1976. It was the most complex robotic lunar mission ever attempted, using four modules: an orbiter, lander, ascender, and return capsule. The lander collected 1,731 grams of material from Mons Rumker in Oceanus Procellarum using both a drill and a surface scoop. Analysis revealed the youngest known lunar basalt at 1.96 billion years old, extending the known period of lunar volcanism by 800 million years.
KEY DISCOVERIES
- Returned 1,731 grams of lunar samples
- Youngest lunar basalt dated at 1.96 billion years old
- Extended known period of lunar volcanism by 800 million years
- Detected indigenous water in samples at 120 ppm
TECHNOLOGY & FIRSTS
- First lunar sample return since Luna 24 in 1976
- Most complex robotic lunar mission architecture (4 modules)
- Autonomous rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit
- Both drill and surface scoop sampling
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS (5)
Panoramic Camera
Lunar Mineralogical Spectrometer
Soil Structure Analyzer
Lunar Surface Sampling Device (drill + scoop)
Lunar Regolith Penetrating Radar
SPACECRAFT SPECIFICATIONS
Mass8,200 kg (18,081 lbs)
PowerSolar panels
CommunicationsX-band direct to Earth
Design Life2 days on surface
Landing DateDecember 1, 2020
Mission EndDecember 17, 2020
ProgramChinese Lunar Exploration
SURFACE DATA
Surface Temperature-150 to 120 C
OTHER MOON LANDERS