# Chang'e 1

> Chinese lunar orbiter

**Wikidata**: [Q49044](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q49044)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chang'e_1)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/chang-e-1

## Summary  
Chang'e 1 is China's first lunar orbiter and a key mission in the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program. Launched in October 2007, it mapped the Moon’s surface and marked China’s initial major step in planetary exploration. The spacecraft operated until March 2009, when it was intentionally crash-landed on the Moon.

## Key Facts  
- **Launched**: 2007-10-24 from Xichang Satellite Launch Center  
- **Launch vehicle**: Long March 3A rocket  
- **Mass at takeoff**: 2,350 kilograms  
- **Orbit**: Circular lunar orbit with 200 km apoapsis and periapsis  
- **Orbital period**: 127 minutes  
- **Orbital inclination**: 64 degrees  
- **Mission end**: Hard landing on the Moon on 2009-03-01  
- **Operator**: China National Space Administration  
- **Part of**: Chinese Lunar Exploration Program  
- **Followed by**: Chang'e 2  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was Chang'e 1's main mission?  
A: Chang'e 1 was designed to orbit the Moon and map its surface. It collected scientific data on lunar topography, mineral composition, and space environment to support future lunar missions.

### Q: When was Chang'e 1 launched and when did it stop functioning?  
A: Chang'e 1 was launched on October 24, 2007, and ceased operations after a controlled crash landing on the Moon on March 1, 2009.

### Q: How was Chang'e 1 launched into space?  
A: Chang'e 1 was launched using a Long March 3A rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan, China.

## Why It Matters  
Chang'e 1 represents a historic milestone in China's space program as the country's first mission to orbit the Moon. It demonstrated China’s growing capabilities in deep-space navigation, remote sensing, and interplanetary communication. The mission laid critical groundwork for subsequent lunar missions including Chang'e 2, Chang'e 3 (which landed a rover), and eventually Chang'e 5, which returned lunar samples to Earth. Chang’e 1 also contributed valuable scientific data that enhanced understanding of the Moon’s surface composition and structure, supporting global lunar research efforts.

## Notable For  
- First Chinese spacecraft to orbit the Moon  
- Successfully mapped the Moon’s surface in three dimensions  
- Tested key technologies like deep-space tracking and telemetry  
- Marked the beginning of China’s systematic lunar exploration strategy  
- Operated for over 16 months beyond its planned one-year mission  

## Body  

### Mission Overview  
Chang'e 1 was China's inaugural lunar-orbiting spacecraft, part of the broader Chinese Lunar Exploration Program. Its primary objectives included obtaining high-resolution imagery of the lunar surface, analyzing chemical composition, and studying the space environment between Earth and the Moon.

### Launch and Trajectory  
The spacecraft was launched on **October 24, 2007**, at 10:05 UTC from the **Xichang Satellite Launch Center** using a **Long March 3A** carrier rocket. After insertion into Earth orbit, it underwent several maneuvers before successfully entering lunar orbit on **November 5, 2007**.

### Orbital Characteristics  
Once in lunar orbit, Chang'e 1 maintained a near-circular path:
- **Periapsis**: 200 km  
- **Apoapsis**: 200 km  
- **Inclination**: 64°  
- **Orbital Period**: ~127 minutes  

This stable orbit allowed the probe to systematically scan the Moon’s surface using onboard instruments.

### Scientific Payload  
Key instruments aboard Chang'e 1 included:
- A stereo camera for 3D mapping  
- An interferometer spectrometer for mineral analysis  
- A gamma-ray/X-ray spectrometer for elemental detection  
- A microwave radiometer for subsurface exploration  
- A solar wind analyzer  
- A charged particle detector  

These tools enabled comprehensive study of lunar terrain, chemistry, and interaction with solar radiation.

### Operational Timeline  
- **October 24, 2007**: Launch via Long March 3A  
- **November 5, 2007**: Entered lunar orbit  
- **November–December 2007**: Commissioning phase; calibration of instruments  
- **January 2008 – March 2009**: Nominal science operations  
- **March 1, 2009**: Controlled impact onto the Moon at 08:13:10 UTC  

Despite being planned for only one year, the mission lasted over 16 months due to efficient fuel usage and system performance.

### Legacy and Impact  
Chang'e 1 established foundational experience for later missions such as Chang'e 2 (a more advanced orbiter) and Chang'e 3 (the first soft landing on the Moon since 1976). It also provided crucial datasets used in planning human lunar exploration and international collaboration projects. The success of Chang’e 1 elevated China’s status in the global space community and paved the way for increasingly ambitious lunar endeavors.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013