OK that title is all wrong and pun oriented. It is not named Eagle … but still, the Chinese probe Chang’E has touched down on the Moon! If you’re like me, you likely wonder what happened to the previous Changs from A to D which would be wrong as the iteration is actually -3 while the Chang’E is the name of the Moon goddess in Chinese mythology! Number 1 and 2 were orbiters whereas the present dash 3 is a lander that is disembarking a rover by the beautiful name of Jade Rabbit. This is noteworthy as such a successful landing last happened all the way back in 1976 and that China thus becomes only the third nation after Russia and the USA to do so and so fully enables the meaning of the -3 numeral? Again, it bears a note : there were other landings on the Moon by Japan, the ESA but both crashed albeit voluntary? An Indian impactor did it too in 2008 to showcase the ability to reach a specific point and allow its mother craft Chandrayaan to record and analyze the dust raised!
So that 54 years after the original September 1959 Russian Luna 2, humanity is back on Selene ( Greek mythology ) / Chang’E!
The feat is impressive if not as much as the 6 Apollo 11-12 and 14 to 17 missions that saw American astronauts mark human presence. Jade Rabbit is expected to analyze the chemical composition of Moon samples through its ά particles X-ray and infrared spectrometers. It will explore the surrounding 249 km across Sinus Iridum crater or Bay of Rainbows.
If you want to check on it as things develop, you can go here :
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/special/change3/
The images have begun to arrive as you can see above and since it is a rare occurrence, you might as well get your kids to follow the action thus giving them a sense of what space exploration is about. In addition, it could be the source of a proper science homework or project. Scientific research often produces marvelous results in barely comprehensible form for the layman such as numbers or graphs. Pictures and films are a better incentive to get the young ones interested at first. The Chinese CCTV channel has made interesting programs around it. For instance, they use computer animations to reproduce the movements of the probe as they happen on the Moon, along with explanations :
http://english.cntv.cn/program/newsupdate/20131214/104460.shtml
Find them here : http://english.cntv.cn/news/space/index.shtml
Or better yet, check out the Agency equivalent to NASA or ESA responsible for this achievement :
http://www.cnsa.gov.cn/n615709/
On that subject, here is the aforementioned Jade Rabbit :
It is neither green nor rabbit looking of course! Its Chinese name is Yutu.
NASA is also following the mission. Not for spying purposes mind you but rather because in science, observation reaps benefit. Which brings us to the wider picture. Chang’e is aptly named : change. The state of space exploration is changing. We mentioned often how ISS astronauts reach it on Russian rockets even the American ones. But we also know that NASA has launched a batch of programs to support private firms that will in the very near future provide transport to orbit.
There is of course another rover named curiosity on Mars right now, continuing its excellent work. There is also an Indian probe called MOM or Mars Orbiter Mission on its way as we write and read respectively?
http://www.universetoday.com/106841/mother-of-all-slingshots-set-to-hurl-indias-mom-probe-to-mars/
http://www.space.com/23802-india-mars-probe-red-planet-journey.html
This is now an open era of space exploration. The initial duo of USSR & USA has been joined already by the European and Japan. China and India are now full fledged explorers too. Israel put a satellite in orbit in 1998. South Korea’s KSLV made its first successful orbit last summer and Brazil is due to repeat its VLS attempts in 2015 and . There are many other nations ( +- 40 ) that have some sort of space programs developing satellites launched by one of the major commercial launchers. The interest in space launchers being coupled to military use of long range missiles, we know it will endure. And the interest of science being coupled with an image of modernity and power for the nations behind it, that too will go on.
Still commercial activities for low orbit tourism being well engaged ( Virgin & co ) and the novel approach of America subcontracting to the private sector show that the future may not be nationally based! Yes, the chinese are for now developing alone but even they have hinted at bringing foreign taikonauts onboard their manned ships. And in the long run, for monetary reasons, most large scale endeavours will be shared just as the International Space Station. It is only to be hoped that the scope of the exploration to be accomplished will serve the purpose of forcing us into heightened collaboration, double entendre very much intended?
In the meanwhile congratulations to China and good learning to all the prospective scientists of the cosmos, Tay
Additional information : This is a link to an explanation of a possible attempt to land people on an asteroid
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/11/131118-ceres-asteroid-solar-system-space-science/
And this site offers computer reconstructed views of the Moon as it stands at the time of your visit :
http://lunaf.com/english/live-data/moon-view-from-earth/
On today’s image, the Chinese lander is found in the upper left hand part in the half-circle recess or bay of dark surface around Mare Imbrium by the red X mark. You can go out and check it with a simple pair of binoculars but do not expect to spot it?
Definitive Lapse of Reason 