China announced plans to land on the moon in 2013

Chinese news agency Xinhua recently announced that China will land the unmanned first device on the moon in the second half of 2013.

Hang Nga 3 will be the third lunar exploration ship to be launched by the Chinese National Space Agency (CNSA) and will probably be the first ship to land on the moon. The combination of long-range equipment for landing will be directed from a satellite launch center in Sichuan province. This is considered an important part of China's plan to explore the moon and conquer the universe.

Hang Nga 3 ship is named after the moon goddess of Chinese people. The previous generation of Chang Er 3, Hang Nga 1 and Hang Nga 2, was launched in 2007 and 2010 respectively. Hang Nga 3 will have an automatic landing and a vehicle, expected its mission to be land on Sinus Iridum on the moon. It is a plain lava basalt located at latitude 44, extending to the northwest to Mare Imbrium. The duration of this mission is expected to be about 3 months.

The observation device is a 6-wheel vehicle weighing 120kg, a load of 20kg. It is supported by a radionuclide electric generator and it will help the device operate in dark conditions. More importantly, it kept electronic devices and batteries from freezing as happened with a Soviet device. This device can transmit live video signals, with analytical radar on the side, collecting and analyzing soil samples

Weighing more than 100kg will make the device safer and more functional with a kit that includes telescopes and ultraviolet cameras. China claims it will be the first moon observatory in history.

Reference: Gizmag