Zhao Weijie, Wang Chi
NSR news editor based, Beijing.
National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Natl Sci Rev. 2019 Nov;6(6):1274-1278. doi: 10.1093/nsr/nwz120. Epub 2019 Aug 16.
The Chinese lunar probe Chang'e-4 (CE-4) landed in the Von Kármán crater within the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin on the far-side of the Moon on 3 January 2019. Following this, the moon rover Yutu-2 separated from the CE-4 lander and started its travels and exploration on the far-side of the Moon. Before this landing, humans had remotely observed the far-side of the Moon with lunar satellites. However, it was the first time that a man-made spacecraft had landed there and actually left behind wheel prints belonging to humanity. Since China's Lunar Exploration Project (CLEP), or Chang'e Project, started in 2004, China has accomplished the first two steps of its three-step plan of 'Orbiting, Landing and Returning'. CE-3 and CE-4 landed successfully on the near-side and far-side of the Moon, respectively. In the near future, CE-5 will land again on the near-side of the Moon and take lunar rock and soil samples back to Earth, thus completing the three-step plan of CLEP. In April 2019, (NSR) interviewed three key figures of CLEP: CLEP Chief Engineer Weiren Wu (), the first CLEP Chief Scientist and CLEP senior consultant Ziyuan Ouyang (), and CLEP third phase Vice-Chief Engineer, CE-4 Ground Research and Application System Director Chunlai Li (). They talked about the scientific expectations and future plans of China's lunar and deep space exploration.
2019年1月3日，中国月球探测器嫦娥四号（CE-4）在月球背面南极-艾特肯（SPA）盆地的冯·卡门撞击坑成功着陆。随后，玉兔二号月球车与嫦娥四号着陆器分离，开始在月球背面进行巡视探测。在此次着陆之前，人类已通过月球卫星对月球背面进行过远距离观测。然而，这是人造航天器首次在月球背面着陆并真正留下属于人类的车辙印。自2004年中国月球探测工程（CLEP）即嫦娥工程启动以来，中国已完成“绕、落、回”三步走计划的前两步。嫦娥三号和嫦娥四号分别成功在月球正面和背面着陆。在不久的将来，嫦娥五号将再次在月球正面着陆，并把月球岩石和土壤样本带回地球，从而完成嫦娥工程的三步走计划。2019年4月，《国家科学评论》（NSR）采访了嫦娥工程的三位关键人物：嫦娥工程总设计师吴伟仁、嫦娥工程首任首席科学家兼高级顾问欧阳自远以及嫦娥工程三期副总设计师、嫦娥四号地面应用系统总指挥李春来。他们谈到了中国月球与深空探测的科学预期和未来计划。
