Continued radio monitoring of Chang’e 4 in orbit around the Moon has allowed amateurs to develop an orbital model and propagate that model to predict a tentative landing date and time. Data supplied by radio amateurs Edgar Kaiser, DF2MZ and Paul Marsh, M0EYT suggest a possible first landing window of early January 1st or 2nd, 2019. So is it time to start a friendly betting pool at the office?
Month: December 2018
Chang’e 4 in Lunar Orbit
After a few days of head scratching the data being received from the Moon by amateurs clearly shows Chang’e 4 in lunar orbit, just not the expected orbit. The plane of the Chang’e 4 appears to be about 90 degree off of what was expected based on the Chang’e 3 trajectory assuming we understand it correctly. Communication activity appears limited to direct communication with Earth on X-band as there have been no signs of activity from Queqiao or on S-band from Chang’e 4. Chang’e 3 has made some brief appearances apparently being told to keep quiet while Chang’e 4 gets ready to land.
X Marks the Orbit?
Radio amateurs Edgar Kaiser, DF2MZ and Paul Marsh, M0EYT received a radio signal today from the Moon consistent with frequencies published by the ITU for the Chinese lunar exploration program. However, there’s a catch. The data does not fit the orbit that it should be in.
Eating Static from the Moon…
Xinhua reported today that Chang’e 4 entered lunar orbit at about 08:39 UTC on Dec 12th. No amateur observers reported observing the event; however, three highly competent amateur observers in Europe shared observations hours after the lunar orbit insertion burn was executed. No evidence of a signal from Chang’e 4 has been noted since my loss of signal earlier on Dec 12th. I later conducted similar observations and searched around the Moon for the signal and found nothing we can relate to Chang’e 4. Only signals from Chang’e 5T-1 and Queqiao where noted.
[UPDATED – Dec 13th, 2018] Continue reading “Eating Static from the Moon…”
A Trip to the Dark Side of the Moon?
On December 7th, 2018 at 1823 UTC the Chinese launched the much anticipated Chang’e 4 mission to the far side of the Moon. Unfortunately, the launch was not broadcast live nor has there been much in the way of official word on what is going on with the mission. Fortunately, we have both the Chang’e program history and Chang’e 4’s transmitter to help us fill in the blanks of what to expect and witness history in realtime without a filter.
So for those not accustomed to watching a space first unfold in the language of the Doppler effect here’s a primer of what has happened and what to expect.
Riddles in the Sky 