挖好的“土”已经打包完毕,嫦娥五号准备回家!
北京时间12月2日22时,嫦娥五号探测器顺利完成月球表面自动采样,并已按预定形式将样品封装保存在上升器携带的贮存装置中。
采样和封装过程中,科技人员在地面实验室根据探测器传回数据,仿真采样区地理模型并全程模拟采样,为采样决策和各环节操作提供了重要依据。
探测器经受住超过100摄氏度的月面高温考验,克服了测控、光照、电源等方面的条件约束,依托全新研制的地外天体样品采集机构,通过机械臂表取和钻具钻取两种方式分别采集月球样品,实现了多点、多样化自动采样。
为确保月球样品在返回地球过程中,保持真空密闭以及不受外界环境影响,探测器在月面对样品进行了密封封装。
China's Chang'e-5 probe is sampling on the lunar surface, December 2, 2020. /CNSA
China's Chang'e-5 probe finished the task of gathering and sealing samples from the moon's surface at 22:00 BJT on Wednesday, according to the China National Space Administration.
After automatic collection, the samples were sealed as planned in a storage device carried by the ascender, and will be transferred to the returner in the following tasks.
During the probe's operation, the ground crew simulated the whole sampling process in the lab based on the data it transmitted back, which provided an important reference for it.
The lander's payloads, which carried out scientific exploration as planned and provided data support for sampling, worked normally.
Automatic sampling is one of the core tasks of the Chang'e-5 mission.
The probe has withstood the high temperature on the lunar surface of more than 100 degrees Celsius and overcome the constraints of measurement and control, lighting, power supply and other conditions.
It used two methods for sampling: a robotic arm for multiple-point surface sample collections and drills to penetrate into the soil to collect samples there. The latter was finished by Wednesday morning.
The sealing work was conducted on the moon to ensure intact samples are not affected by the external environment when returning to Earth.
A variety of payloads onboard the probe, including the landing camera, panoramic camera, lunar soil structure detector and lunar mineral spectrum analyzer, will play a crucial part in the exploration of lunar surface morphology, mineral composition, and the lunar shallow structure.
Next, the ascender is expected to lift off from the moon's surface to transfer the samples to the returner and orbiter waiting in lunar orbit. The returner, at an appropriate date and time, will separate from the orbiter and carry the samples back to Earth.