Lunar exploration is deemed crucial for uncovering the origins of the Earth-Moon system and is the first step for advancing humanity’s exploration of deep space.Over the past decade,the Chinese Lunar Exploration Prog...Lunar exploration is deemed crucial for uncovering the origins of the Earth-Moon system and is the first step for advancing humanity’s exploration of deep space.Over the past decade,the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program(CLEP),also known as the Chang’e(CE)Project,has achieved remarkable milestones.It has successfully developed and demonstrated the engineering capability required to reach and return from the lunar surface.Notably,the CE Project has made historic firsts with the landing and on-site exploration of the far side of the Moon,along with the collection of the youngest volcanic samples from the Procellarum KREEP Terrane.These achievements have significantly enhanced our understanding of lunar evolution.Building on this success,China has proposed an ambitious crewed lunar exploration strategy,aiming to return to the Moon for scientific exploration and utilization.This plan encompasses two primary phases:the first crewed lunar landing and exploration,followed by a thousand-kilometer scale scientific expedition to construct a geological cross-section across the lunar surface.Recognizing the limitations of current lunar exploration efforts and China’s engineering and technical capabilities,this paper explores the benefits of crewed lunar exploration while leveraging synergies with robotic exploration.The study refines fundamental lunar scientific questions that could lead to significant breakthroughs,considering the respective engineering and technological requirements.This research lays a crucial foundation for defining the objectives of future lunar exploration,emphasizing the importance of crewed missions and offering insights into potential advancements in lunar science.展开更多
We attempted to determine the first three-dimensional P and S wave velocity and Poisson's ratio structures of the lunar crust and mantle down to 1000 km depth under the near-side of the Moon by applying seismic to...We attempted to determine the first three-dimensional P and S wave velocity and Poisson's ratio structures of the lunar crust and mantle down to 1000 km depth under the near-side of the Moon by applying seismic tomography to the moonquake arrival-time data recorded by the Apollo seismic network operated during 1969 to 1977.Our results show that significant lateral heterogeneities may exist in the lunar interior.Because there is no plate tectonics in the Moon,the lateral heterogeneities may be produced at the early stage of the Moon formation and evolution,and they have been preserved till today.There seems to be a correlation between the distribution of deep moonquakes and lateral velocity variations in the lunar lower mantle,suggesting that the occurrence of deep moonquakes may be affected by the lunar structural heterogeneity in addition to the tidal stresses.Although this is an experimental work and the result is still preliminary,it indicates that tomographic imaging of the lunar interior is feasible.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(L2224032)the Research Project on the Discipline Development Strategy of Academic Divisions of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XK2022DXC004).
文摘Lunar exploration is deemed crucial for uncovering the origins of the Earth-Moon system and is the first step for advancing humanity’s exploration of deep space.Over the past decade,the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program(CLEP),also known as the Chang’e(CE)Project,has achieved remarkable milestones.It has successfully developed and demonstrated the engineering capability required to reach and return from the lunar surface.Notably,the CE Project has made historic firsts with the landing and on-site exploration of the far side of the Moon,along with the collection of the youngest volcanic samples from the Procellarum KREEP Terrane.These achievements have significantly enhanced our understanding of lunar evolution.Building on this success,China has proposed an ambitious crewed lunar exploration strategy,aiming to return to the Moon for scientific exploration and utilization.This plan encompasses two primary phases:the first crewed lunar landing and exploration,followed by a thousand-kilometer scale scientific expedition to construct a geological cross-section across the lunar surface.Recognizing the limitations of current lunar exploration efforts and China’s engineering and technical capabilities,this paper explores the benefits of crewed lunar exploration while leveraging synergies with robotic exploration.The study refines fundamental lunar scientific questions that could lead to significant breakthroughs,considering the respective engineering and technological requirements.This research lays a crucial foundation for defining the objectives of future lunar exploration,emphasizing the importance of crewed missions and offering insights into potential advancements in lunar science.
基金partly supported by the Foreigner Visiting Researcher Program of CAS 2014, No.2013T2J0017partly supported by the national key basic research and development plan (Grant No.2015CB857101)of China
基金Supported by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) to D. Zhao (Grant Nos.B-11440134 and A-17204037)
文摘We attempted to determine the first three-dimensional P and S wave velocity and Poisson's ratio structures of the lunar crust and mantle down to 1000 km depth under the near-side of the Moon by applying seismic tomography to the moonquake arrival-time data recorded by the Apollo seismic network operated during 1969 to 1977.Our results show that significant lateral heterogeneities may exist in the lunar interior.Because there is no plate tectonics in the Moon,the lateral heterogeneities may be produced at the early stage of the Moon formation and evolution,and they have been preserved till today.There seems to be a correlation between the distribution of deep moonquakes and lateral velocity variations in the lunar lower mantle,suggesting that the occurrence of deep moonquakes may be affected by the lunar structural heterogeneity in addition to the tidal stresses.Although this is an experimental work and the result is still preliminary,it indicates that tomographic imaging of the lunar interior is feasible.