Chang'e 3
Lunar exploration mission operated by the China National Space Administration / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Chang'e 3?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Chang'e 3 ( /tʃæŋˈʌ/; Chinese: 嫦娥三号; pinyin: Cháng'é Sānhào; lit. 'Chang'e No. 3') is a robotic lunar exploration mission operated by the China National Space Administration (CNSA), incorporating a robotic lander and China's first lunar rover. It was launched in December 2013 as part of the second phase of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program.[4][5] The mission's chief commander was Ma Xingrui.[6]
Mission type | Lander and rover |
---|---|
Operator | CNSA |
COSPAR ID | 2013-070A |
SATCAT no. | 39458 |
Mission duration | Lander: 1 year (planned) Current: 10 years, 4 months, 3 days Rover: 3 months (planned)[1] Final: 2 years, 229 days |
Spacecraft properties | |
Manufacturer | China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) |
BOL mass | 3,780 kg (8,330 lb)[2] |
Landing mass | 1,200 kg (2,600 lb) Rover: 140 kg (310 lb)[3] |
Dimensions | Rover: 1.5 m (4.9 ft) long, 1.0 m high |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 17:30, 1 December 2013 (UTC) (2013-12-01T17:30Z) UTC[4] |
Rocket | Long March 3B Y-23 |
Launch site | Xichang LC-2 |
Contractor | |
Lunar lander | |
Landing date | 13:11, 14 December 2013 (UTC) (2013-12-14T13:11Z) UTC |
Landing site | Mare Imbrium 44.1214°N 19.5116°W / 44.1214; -19.5116 |
Chang'e probes |
The spacecraft was named after Chang'e, the goddess of the Moon in Chinese mythology, and is a follow-up to the Chang'e 1 and Chang'e 2 lunar orbiters. The rover was named Yutu (Chinese: 玉兔; lit. 'Jade Rabbit') following an online poll, after the mythological rabbit that lives on the Moon as a pet of the Moon goddess.[7]
Chang'e 3 achieved lunar orbit on 6 December 2013[8] and landed on 14 December 2013,[9] becoming the first spacecraft to soft-land on the Moon since the Soviet Union's Luna 24 in 1976[10] and the third country to successfully achieve the feat.[11] On 28 December 2015, Chang'e 3 discovered a new type of basaltic rock, rich in ilmenite, a black mineral.[12]