Achievements and Prospect of Payloads Technology in Chinese Lunar and Deep Space Exploration

Abstract

Payloads are the direct tools for achieving science objectives，and their technical approach and level impacts the implementation degree of science objectives. Science objectives and payloads configuration for Chinese lunar and deep space exploration are reviewed. Technical realization，operation results and achievements of some remote sensing payloads of the Chang’e-1 and Chang’e-2 lunar orbiting probes are introduced，including the stereo camera and interferometer spectrometer imager，laser altimeter，microwave radiometer，gamma and X-ray spectrometer，Solar high energy particle detector and Solar wind ions detector. The technical realization，operation results and achievements of some in-situ and rover exploration payloads of the Chang’e-3 lunar lander and rover are introduced，including the terrain camera，lunar based telescope，extreme ultraviolet camera，imager and infrared spectrometer，alpha particle X-ray spectrometer and lunar penetrating radar. The development trends of the payloads technology is analyzed，and the development of Chinese payloads technology is prospected.

Keywords

lunar and deep space exploration / payload / remote sensing / in-situ exploration / rover exploration