Objectif Lune for Europe and China – Le Figaro

Having been relatively neglected, interest in the exploration of our satellite was revived. China and Europe are the main drivers of this new ambition.

China in 2013 took over from the United States and the USSR, becoming the first country since the Soviet Mission Luna 24 in 1976 to ask smooth an object, Chang’e 3, on the Moon. A small rover, Yutu (Jade Rabbit French), on board, even made some laps on the surface. New splendid images of this historic mission have also been unveiled a few weeks ago.

But the ambition of China does not stop there. After successfully completing a round trip to the moon without landing late 2014 to test atmospheric reentry at high speed, those responsible for the exploration program announced mid-January their intention to land in 2018 on the far side of the moon. If successful, the mission Chang’e 4 become history if the landscape has been photographed many times by different probes, no one has gone to land on this side of the Moon always hidden from Earth.

Another mission Chang’e 5 it should be responsible for bringing two kilos of moon samples to Earth. The timing of this mission, whose launch was scheduled for 2017 two years ago, remains rather vague at the moment.

Ultimately the goal of China will be setting foot on the Moon, a first since 1972 and the last Apollo mission. This should not occur before 2025 at the earliest. The new director of the European Space Agency (ESA), Jan Wörner, her dream of an “International Lunar Village” in 2030. In early 2015, ESA already broadcast a video of his vision of past lunar exploration and future:

This project is for the moment the form of cooperation with Russia and China on their next robotic missions Chang’e and Luna. In 2020, Luna 27 should such arise at the South Pole to try to locate the underground ice. This area has the advantage of being the most enlightened time and provide frequent communications with Earth. It would be a wise choice for the establishment of a manned base.

The United States they also participate in this vast program? Their Orion capsule must prevail in the early 2020s four astronauts orbiting the Moon. The goal for NASA is primarily to prepare a first manned mission to Mars, via an asteroid. But the Moon could also be an interesting step. For now, this program is dashed. The likely abandoning the International Space Station in 2024 nénamoins could give it a real boost. Very preliminary discussions are ongoing.