Six years ago today, the chang'e-3 probe was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, accurately entered orbit, successively carried out the scientific exploration of "Sky Survey, earth observation and moon measurement", completed China's first soft landing mission of extraterrestrial objects, and achieved the second strategic goal of the lunar exploration project in the three steps of "orbit, fall and return"!
On December 2, 2013, Xichang, a small town in Sichuan, once again focused on the world! At 1:30 a.m., the chang'e-3 probe took off from here and ran to the moon. Near the launch, the reporter came to the designated area near the No. 2 launch station of Xichang Satellite Launch Center and waited for the exciting moment. " Attention, all numbers, prepare in 30 minutes! " Among the mountains, there was a calm and loud command voice from mission zero commander Yan Liqing. He also issued the ignition and launch command of Chang'e-2 satellite three years ago. In the distance, the milky white Long March 3B improved carrier rocket holding the Chang'e 3 detector is standing on the No. 2 launch tower, waiting for the moon.
"Attention, all numbers, prepare in five minutes!" Fuel refuellers skillfully and carefully add 'power' - liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen with extremely low temperature, which are flammable, explosive and toxic gases. Any problem with any detail may lead to the suspension of launch. The staff of each post are in the combat readiness state: in the remote control building, the technicians of electrical measurement, telemetry, external measurement and other systems are making the final test and inspection of the rocket according to the regulations; In the aiming room, the researchers are making the final fine aim at the rocket attitude; Not far from the site, fire engines and security teams are on standby. All the staff on the tower have been evacuated.
'…& hellip; 5. 4, 3, 2, 1, ignition! " Bai Chunbo, the operator of the engine control console, decisively pressed the red ignition button. At 1:30, the rocket rose from the ground, emitting orange flames at the bottom, and the roar rang through the valley. About 10 seconds after taking off, the rocket turned according to the procedure and flew southeast. " Find target ',' tracking normal '& hellip& hellip; Reports from various survey stations came from the hall of the command and control center. On the display screen, you can see the real-time animation of rocket flight. Good news came from the Beijing flight control center after the separation of the rocket and the deployment of the solar panels. Zhang Zhenzhong, director of Xichang Satellite Launch Center, announced that the launch of chang'e-3 was a complete success! Warm applause broke out in the crowd!
At 1 a.m. on December 2, Beijing aerospace flight control center of Beijing Aerospace City, which is the flight control center and teleoperation center of Chang'e 3 mission of phase II of China's lunar exploration project. Through the large screen of the flight control hall, Xichang Satellite Launch Center thousands of miles away is in front of us.
'five minutes to prepare!' The loud voice of the chief dispatcher almost overlapped with the voice of "commander zero" of Xichang Satellite Launch Center from the loudspeaker in the hall. In the hall, the atmosphere suddenly became tense. " 1 minute preparation! " The countdown began and people held their breath. " Fire! Take off! " At 1:30, the rocket lifted chang'e-3 to the depths of the sky.
As time glides by, data from the measurement and control stations in all directions on the ground and the measurement ship Yuanwang continue to gather. In the Beijing flight control hall, the brains of scientific and technological personnel run at high speed with the computer in front of them. The most critical moment has come. " The arrow is separated! " The voice of the chief dispatcher did not fall, and the excited people expressed their excitement with thunderous applause.
After a 1140 second flight, the rocket sent chang'e-3 to the moon. " Chang'e-3 has successfully entered its scheduled orbit. " The quiet flight control hall once again turned into a sea of boiling joy.