Chang'e-6 recently completed a series of interlocking and difficult maneuvers, and the treasure on the back of the moon successfully caught the "special train home". In this series of key links, how do the various parts of Chang'e-6 work together? The reporter interviewed relevant experts from the Fifth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
Chang'e-6 consists of four parts: the orbiter, lander, ascender and returner. (Photo courtesy of the Fifth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation)
Chang'e-6 consists of the "four brothers" of the orbiter, lander, ascender and returner. In the "Four Brothers", the lander is responsible for landing on the lunar surface for sampling, and the ascender is responsible for carrying "soil" to the sky and handing over samples. The two are collectively called the landing assembly. The orbiter is responsible for traveling between the Earth and the moon and transporting samples, and the returner is responsible for landing on the ground and sending back samples. The two are collectively called the orbit-return assembly.
Schematic diagram of the four-instrument assembly of Chang'e-6.
The "four brothers" of Chang'e-6 are in a four-vessel assembly state of "working side by side" during the stages of launch into orbit, earth-moon transfer, and near-moon braking.
Schematic diagram of the separation of the track return assembly and the upper assembly.
After entering the lunar flight stage, the orbit-return assembly and the landing assembly were separated, and the "four brothers" began to work in "pairing up". After separation, the landing assembly must complete two orbit descent changes to prepare for landing. The orbit-return assembly is waiting for the arrival of the ascender in orbit around the moon.
Schematic diagram of the landing assembly. During the landing process, the
landing assembly will look for a suitable opportunity to slow down. When approaching the moon, first check whether the ground is flat. If the ground is not suitable for landing, it will hover to avoid obstacles and slowly descend to a suitable location. After landing, sample collection and scientific exploration on the far side of the moon will be carried out in an orderly manner.
schematic diagram of orbital maneuvering of the orbit-return assembly.
At the same time, the orbit-return assembly, still sailing in the lunar orbit, performed multiple orbital maneuvers to prepare for rendezvous, docking and sample transfer.
Schematic diagram of the separation of the ascender and lander. After the
sampling was successful, the ascender separated from the lander, and the single ascender took off vertically from the lunar surface and entered the orbit around the moon. After that, the ascender and the orbit-return assembly continued to approach, the rendezvous and docking was completed, and the sample was transferred from the ascender to the orbit-return assembly.
Finally, the orbit-return assembly rushed towards the moon-earth incident point and embarked on the road back to the earth. After undergoing many mid-course corrections as planned, the orbiter will "wave goodbye" to the returner at an altitude of about 5,000 kilometers from the earth. The returner will then reenter the earth and run the final leg of this relay race to the moon. Sent home safely. (Reporter Song Chen)
(Source: Xinhua News Agency)
