Science Results of Chang’e-1 Lunar Orbiter and Mission Goals of Chang’e-2

The Chang’e-1 was successfully launched on Oct. 24th,2007 from Xichang Satellite Launch Center and was guided to crash the Moon on Mar. 1st,2009. The total mission duration is 495 days. The total amount of raw data is about 1.37Tbyte,on the basis of which 4Tbyte of scientific data have been produced. By the analysis and application of these data,a series of science results have been achieved,especially "The Global Image of the Moon by the First Lunar Mission of China",The Chang’e-1 has made out its four scientific objectives and provided foundations for the promotion of the lunar sciences and planetology and the succeeding lunar exploration missions in China. Since the success of Chang’e-1,the technical modification for Chang' e-2(CE-2)has been completed for the new mission goals. Chang’e-2 will be developed as a technical test probe for the second stage of China’s Lunar Exploration Program,and will be launched in Oct. 2010. The time from the probe launch to its capture by the Moon will be shortened from CE-1’s 13 days to CE-2’s 5 days. The orbit altitude will lowered down from CE-1’s 200 km to CE-2’s 100km. The spatial resolution of CCD stereo camera will be improved from CE-1’s 120m to CE-2’s 10m. The frequency of laser pulse of laser altimeter will be improved from CE-1’s 1 Hz to CE-2’s 5 Hz. The mission goals of CE-2 will focus on the high resolution image for the future landing site of CE-3 lunar lander and rover. The key technologies for soft landing on the moon will be tested in the CE-2 mission. The success of CE-2 will provide important technical basis for the successful implementation of China’s future lunar exploration.