Design method of precise landing site selection and evaluation for Chang'e-4 mission and in-orbit verification

Yang Zhao, Fei Li, Bo Wu, Xueying Wu, He Zhang

Research output: Journal article publicationConference articleAcademic researchpeer-review

Abstract

The Chang'e-4 lunar probe safely landed in Von Karman crater of South-Pole Atiken (SPA) basin on the farside of the Moon on 3rd, Jan. 2019. To select proper landing site from rugged area in SPA is prerequisite for the success of Chang'e-4 mission. Conditions of scientific requirements, constraints for implementation, as well as lunar environment and topography, etc. should be carefully taken into consideration while selecting targeted landing sites. According to our study, the lunar topography features generally can be described by surface slopes, crater densities, rock abundances and the occlusions to the sun. These mainly influence the powered-descending process, landing safety and the locomotion capability of lunar rover. In this paper, four major landing sites in large areas are selected according to the scientific requirements and implementation constraints. Then, based on the remote sensing and survey information of these landing sites, the major terrain features of these areas are analyzed. Based on fuzzy reasoning method, the landing site evaluation and selection fuzzy model are set up to precisely pick out smaller regions. Finally, according to the actual powered-descending process and landing site survey result of Chang'e-4 lunar probe, the selection model and method are verified to be available for this mission. The methods can ben-efit future missions of soft landing on celestial bodies.

Original languageEnglish
JournalProceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC
Volume2020-October
Publication statusPublished - 2020
Externally publishedYes
Event71st International Astronautical Congress, IAC 2020 - Virtual, Online
Duration: 12 Oct 202014 Oct 2020

Keywords

  • Chang'e-4 lunar probe
  • Fuzzy reasoning
  • Landing site evaluation
  • Landing site selection
  • Lunar farside
  • Selection based on fuzzy model
  • Topography

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

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