Chang'e 3
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. The mission's chief commander was Ma Xingrui.
Top: Chang'e 3 lander on the Moon Bottom: Yutu rover on lunar surface | |
| Mission type | Lander and rover |
|---|---|
| Operator | CNSA |
| COSPAR ID | 2013-070A |
| SATCAT no. | 39458 |
| Mission duration | Lander: 1 year (planned) Current: 10 years, 2 months, 1 day Rover: 3 months (planned) Final: 2 years, 229 days |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) |
| BOL mass | 3,780 kg (8,330 lb) |
| Landing mass | 1,200 kg (2,600 lb) Rover: 140 kg (310 lb) |
| Dimensions | Rover: 1.5 m (4.9 ft) long, 1.0 m high |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 17:30, 1 December 2013 (UTC) UTC |
| Rocket | Long March 3B Y-23 |
| Launch site | Xichang LC-2 |
| Contractor | |
| Lunar lander | |
| Landing date | 13:11, 14 December 2013 (UTC) UTC |
| Landing site | Mare Imbrium 44.1214°N 19.5116°W |
| History of the People's Republic of China |
|---|
| History of |
| China portal |
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.
Chang'e 3 achieved lunar orbit on 6 December 2013 and landed on 14 December 2013, becoming the first spacecraft to soft-land on the Moon since the Soviet Union's Luna 24 in 1976 and the third country to successfully achieve the feat. On 28 December 2015, Chang'e 3 discovered a new type of basaltic rock, rich in ilmenite, a black mineral.