The fourth phase of China's lunar exploration project has begun to be fully implemented! Marginal exploration of the solar system is proposed to be achieved in 2049

Science and Technology Daily reporter Liu Yuanyuan

Not long ago, the Information Office of the State Council released the "2021 China Aerospace" white paper. The press conference revealed that during the "Fourteenth Five-Year Plan" period, the mainland will launch a number of new major aerospace projects, including the fourth phase of the lunar exploration project.

What is the current progress of the fourth phase of China's lunar exploration project? How will it be implemented? Wu Weiren, member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and chief designer of China's lunar exploration project, gave an in-depth interpretation in an interview with the media during the two sessions. He introduced that the fourth phase of China's lunar exploration project officially passed the approval of the project at the end of last year and began to enter the stage of full implementation. China intends to achieve marginal exploration of the solar system in 2049.

Lunar exploration into "no man's land"

"The fourth phase of the lunar exploration project plans to make several landings at the south pole of the moon, and after the landing, it is planned to build a basic type of lunar research station at the south pole of the moon, which is the main goal of our entire fourth phase." Wu Weiren said.

Wu Weiren told reporters that the fourth phase of the lunar exploration project will be implemented in three steps, and it is planned to launch Chang'e 6, Chang'e 7 and Chang'e 8 before 2030, and the current development work is progressing smoothly.

Among them, Chang'e 6 plans to return from sampling in the lunar polar region, and strive to collect one kilogram to two kilograms of samples from the lunar polar region to return to the earth.

"Returning from polar sampling, I think this is relatively difficult, but the value is also very large." Wu Weiren said.

In addition to Chang'e 6, Wu Weiren introduced that Chang'e 7 plans to land at the south pole of the moon to survey lunar resources, such as the survey of water ice, and the survey of the environment, climate, topography and landform of the lunar south pole. Chang'e-8's main mission is to explore how to use the resources of the moon's south pole.

"We hope to be able to analyze and study the existence of the lunar antarctic resources in the field and lay the foundation for long-term work on the moon in the future, so the use of resources is particularly important." Wu Weiren said.

Landing at the south pole of the moon increases the difficulty of the mission

The construction of an international lunar research station at the south pole of the moon is an important highlight of the fourth phase of China's lunar exploration project. Why choose the lunar south pole as the destination?

Wu Weiren explained that the moon has a tidal locking phenomenon, one side of it is always facing the earth, and the temperature is as high as more than 100 degrees Celsius under the influence of sunlight; the other side is always carrying the earth, and in the absence of sunlight, there will be a low temperature of nearly minus 200 degrees Celsius. Such an environment is not conducive to human habitation on the moon for a long time.

In contrast, the lunar south pole may have polar day and polar night phenomena, during the polar day may appear more than 180 consecutive days of light, the establishment of scientific research stations here may be more conducive to long-term work. "We have another main goal to go to the south pole of the moon this time, that is, we hope to find water at the south pole of the moon." Wu Weiren said that the moon has a deep lunar crater at the south pole, which was created when the moon formed, and there may be water in it. And because the moon pit is about 10 kilometers deep and does not see sunlight all year round, the water inside may exist in the form of water ice.

"If water can be found, I think the scientific research station at the south pole of the moon can run for a long time." Wu Weiren said that at the same time, this is also conducive to human beings to conduct short-term exploration at the south pole of the moon in the future.

But using the moon's south pole as a destination also increases the difficulty of launching the mission. "To land at the south pole of the moon, the accuracy of the landing point is very demanding. There are no large plains here, the mountains are rugged everywhere, and it is difficult to find a landing site. Wu Weiren said that preliminary analysis believes that the landing site of the previous lunar exploration mission may be within 1 square kilometer, and the current landing site range may only be 1/10 of the original.

Command hub for a variety of lunar exploration equipment

Wu Weiren introduced that the implementation of several missions in the fourth phase of the lunar exploration project will lay the foundation for the construction of the International Lunar Research Station. First build a basic scientific research station, and then gradually improve it.

"We hope to continue to carry out several missions after 2030, and strive to complete the International Lunar Research Station by 2035, which can be operated for a long time." Wu Weiren said.

According to Wu Weiren's vision, on the future International Lunar Research Station, multiple rovers, landers and leapers work continuously and coordinated on the lunar surface, and there is a command center to direct them to work together. In addition, he also envisions that a lunar communication network may be established on the moon, such as WiFi on the moon, so that the command of the communication system can be guaranteed, the division of labor and cooperation between various landers and rovers can be guaranteed, and the exploitation and development of lunar resources and in situ scientific research can also be carried out at the lunar research station.

"The core of all the work here is for space science exploration and the development and utilization of lunar resources, and scientific research and applied research must be put first, otherwise you will have no meaning in the past." Wu Weiren said.

Or it will become a deep space exploration transit station

Wu Weiren revealed that at present, many countries and international organizations have expressed their willingness to participate in the International Lunar Research Station.

"I think the International Lunar Research Station is of great significance." Wu Weiren believes that if the implementation is successful, it will have great scientific significance and will also fully demonstrate China's scientific and technological strength in the field of aerospace.

Talking about whether the future International Lunar Research Station can be used as a transit station for deep space exploration, Wu Weiren said, "This is sooner or later."

Wu Weiren analyzed that if the lunar research station is used as a deep space exploration transit station, it may involve deep space probes taking off on the moon, solving the problem of fuel propellants on the moon, and landing on the moon after returning from a long deep space to rest, and then take off after a period of time. He told reporters that the lunar gravity is only 1/6 of that of the Earth, so it is easier for the probe to take off on the moon.

"This is a long-term thing, and the current scientific community thinks it is achievable." Wu Weiren said.