New lunar rover to lose 100 kilograms

The model of Chang'e No.1, China's first moon probe satellite, has been displayed at the Ninth China High-Tech Fair being held in Shenzhen.

Chinanews, Shenzhen, Oct. 16 – The model of Chang'e No.1, China's first moon probe satellite, has been displayed at the Ninth China High-Tech Fair being held in Shenzhen. Behind Chang'e No.1, there is a small golden vehicle. The small vehicle is called the lunar rover. It is a core device that will be used during the second stage of China's moon probe program. The vehicle will be launched to the moon in 2013. The lunar rover is built in a rectangular shape and covered with a golden-colored film all over its body. The vehicle has six wheels. The top cover of the vehicle is opened and equipped with a solar cell board on each of its two sides. A pair of 3D, high-definition video camera is placed in front. In the middle part of the vehicle, there is an antenna and a signal receptor. A mechanical arm is built at the back. This is the second time that the lunar rover is displayed to the public. A year ago, it made its debut show at the Zhuhai Air Show. Right now, the lunar rover is still at its research stage. At present, the lunar rover weighs 200 kilograms. In future, scientists will try to reduce its weight to about 100 kilograms. Scientists will also try to improve the design of the wheels to make sure that the lunar rover is able to move around on the surface of the moon. Chang'e No.1 is designed and made by the China Academy of Space Technology. It is in a cubic shape, measuring 2.22 meters long, 1.72 meters wide and 2.2 meters tall. The solar board is equipped on either side of the vehicle so that when extending to its full length, the vehicle can have a span width of 18 meters, about the size of two rooms; with the lengths of the two solar cells being included. Chang'e No.1 can work for one year and it will be launched to fly around the polar orbit 200 kilometers away from the moon. Since Chang'e No. 1 will fly around the lunar polar orbit, it can shoot photograph every corner of the moon, making it become more advanced than the moon probe satellite made in Japan, said Jia Yang, head of the lunar rover research team at the China Academy of Space Technology. Chang'e No. 1 will mostly be used to take 3D pictures about the moon surface, analyze the distribution features of materials on the moon, explore the depth of the lunar soil and the space environment between the earth and the moon. At present, the moon probe satellite has been placed at the Xichang Satellite Launching Center, ready for the launch.