Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Image credit: CCTV

China’s thirst and thrust to explore the Moon is ready for liftoff May 3.

The Chang’e-6 lunar probe is to depart the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan Province. A recent trial run of the takeoff was carried out that also involved the Beijing Aerospace Control Center, the Xi’an Satellite Control Center, and the Yuanwang space-tracking ship, according to China Global Television Network (CGTN).

Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab

Engineers have designed 10 trajectories for the two 50-minute windows, each on Friday and Saturday, to ensure the probe’s arrival in the Moon.

Once launched, reportedly around 5:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday, May 3, Chang’e-6 is to be sent to an Earth-Moon transfer orbit by a Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket.

Image credit: Xingguo Zeng, et al.

Far side science

This will be the second time for a Long March-5 series booster to carry out the launch mission of China’s lunar exploration program, CGTN notes.

The multi-faceted 8.2 metric ton Chang’e-6 spacecraft is designed to collect samples from the Moon’s far side, then deliver those collectibles to Earth.

For more information on this mission, go to my Space.com story – “China to launch sample-return mission to the moon’s far side on May 3” – at:

https://www.space.com/china-preparing-launch-change-6-moon-sample-return-mission

Image credit: CNSA