China lands Chang'e-4 on far side of Moon • Hacker News Board

Re: China lands Chang'e-4 on far side of Moon

#21

Post by joejerryronnie » Thu, Jan 03, 2019, 6:27 AM UTC

XorNot wrote: post #19

golfer wrote: post #15

From the NYT article [0] on the topic: "We Chinese people have done something that the Americans have not dared try.” -- someone associated with the Chinese space agency Why so insecure? Not a good look. [0] https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/02/world/asia/china-change-4...

I'm pretty happy if China wants to throw shade at the US over space program accomplishments. I'd prefer a measuring contest over space accomplishments then building more earth-bound weapons systems.

And how long before the space program accomplishments start looking just a little like space-based weapons systems. I’m sure Chinese military leadership can extrapolate as well as the Pentagon can.

Re: China lands Chang'e-4 on far side of Moon

#22

Post by taneq » Thu, Jan 03, 2019, 6:30 AM UTC

hyperpallium wrote: post #14

taneq wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Also out left field is the 3kg "self sustaining" biosphere of silkworms and plants with a camera inside. Interested to see how long it survives. Aw man, that's how you get giant mutant moonworms.

Where's that? I couldn't fimd it in the linked article. Sounds like Elon Musk's original idea for a greenhouse on Mars, to inspire via realtime cam. Is there any indication they'll have a public cam for it?

It wasn't in TFA, but here's a source: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46724727

> The lander carries a 3kg (6.6lb) container with potato and arabidopsis plant seeds - as well as silkworm eggs - to perform biological studies. The "lunar mini biosphere" experiment was designed by 28 Chinese universities.

(Source for the silkworms, at least. I must confess that giant mutant moonworms are only conjecture... for now...)

Re: China lands Chang'e-4 on far side of Moon

#23

Post by trothamel » Thu, Jan 03, 2019, 6:44 AM UTC

sowbug wrote: post #13

A2017U1 wrote: post #4

Copying earlier comment: Wikipedia seems to say the rover mission duration is 3 months, yet the previous rover traveled for a year and transmitted a bit longer. The Chinese seemed quite coy about it failing last time (as with many things) so perhaps underpromising in this case? This all preparation for China's planned permanent radio telescope on the far side which would be a huge boon for astronomers by escaping Ear…

I'd interpret the stated duration as a criterion for whatever budget they came up with. Building something that'll last 90 days in a harsh environment is a lot less expensive than one that needs to last at least a year. And assuming the folks monitoring the rover aren't working for free, the budget needs to include their cost of employment for a fixed amount of time.

I'll note that the mars exploration rovers Spirit and Opportunity were meant to last 90 sols (Martian days). Spirit lasted 2,210, and (assuming it doesn't reply) Opportunity lasted 5,111.

When you have everyone working on the mission trying to make sure their part isn't the one that causes the mission to end before the 90 days are up, you get a long-lived rover.

Re: China lands Chang'e-4 on far side of Moon

#24

Post by dis-sys » Thu, Jan 03, 2019, 6:49 AM UTC

golfer wrote: post #15

From the NYT article [0] on the topic: "We Chinese people have done something that the Americans have not dared try.” -- someone associated with the Chinese space agency Why so insecure? Not a good look. [0] https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/02/world/asia/china-change-4...

this stupid comment is from a professor from Macau who is not even a part of the team. if NYT cares to spend more time, surely it can find even more extreme views from 1.4 billion average Chinese. the question is how that is newsworthy.

sad for those people who read such NYT junk on daily basis.

Re: China lands Chang'e-4 on far side of Moon

#25

Post by skilled » Thu, Jan 03, 2019, 6:50 AM UTC

Can someone explain how are these types of devices safe from hackers? I mean, it talks back to the space agency, right? Just curious is all. Haven't seen anything related to this question.

Re: China lands Chang'e-4 on far side of Moon

#26

Post by A2017U1 » Thu, Jan 03, 2019, 6:51 AM UTC

taneq wrote: post #22

hyperpallium wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where's that? I couldn't fimd it in the linked article. Sounds like Elon Musk's original idea for a greenhouse on Mars, to inspire via realtime cam. Is there any indication they'll have a public cam for it?

It wasn't in TFA, but here's a source: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46724727 > The lander carries a 3kg (6.6lb) container with potato and arabidopsis plant seeds - as well as silkworm eggs - to perform biological studies. The "lunar mini biosphere" experiment was designed by 28 Chinese universities. (Source for the silkworms, at least. I must confess that giant mutant moonworms are only conjecture...…

Not entirely sure about all the ISS tests but most space biology experiments seem to be zero-g. We know a lot about how life survives at 1g and 0g but very little about in between, so hopefully it goes ok, quite a unique experiment.

Re: China lands Chang'e-4 on far side of Moon

#27

Post by abhishekjha » Thu, Jan 03, 2019, 6:56 AM UTC

skilled wrote: post #25

Can someone explain how are these types of devices safe from hackers? I mean, it talks back to the space agency, right? Just curious is all. Haven't seen anything related to this question.

Wouldn’t the spread spectrum help in preventing any kind of interception?

Re: China lands Chang'e-4 on far side of Moon

#28

Post by phendrenad2 » Thu, Jan 03, 2019, 6:57 AM UTC

jackconnor wrote: post #3

The way they used the L2 point to lasso a relay satellite so they could transmit information from the rover on the far side is stunning too. This was really brilliant, China's space program has really become something.

I know you don't mean to be patronizing, but this reads as patronizing.

Re: China lands Chang'e-4 on far side of Moon

#29

Post by ericye16 » Thu, Jan 03, 2019, 6:59 AM UTC

taneq wrote: post #22

hyperpallium wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where's that? I couldn't fimd it in the linked article. Sounds like Elon Musk's original idea for a greenhouse on Mars, to inspire via realtime cam. Is there any indication they'll have a public cam for it?

It wasn't in TFA, but here's a source: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46724727 > The lander carries a 3kg (6.6lb) container with potato and arabidopsis plant seeds - as well as silkworm eggs - to perform biological studies. The "lunar mini biosphere" experiment was designed by 28 Chinese universities. (Source for the silkworms, at least. I must confess that giant mutant moonworms are only conjecture...…

Hm, doesn't this violate the prime directive (or planetary protection guidelines)?

Re: China lands Chang'e-4 on far side of Moon

#30

Post by auslander » Thu, Jan 03, 2019, 7:05 AM UTC

stcredzero wrote: post #7

jackconnor wrote: post #3

The way they used the L2 point to lasso a relay satellite so they could transmit information from the rover on the far side is stunning too. This was really brilliant, China's space program has really become something.

The way they used the L2 point to lasso a relay satellite So confusing to put it that way. No one has caught anything with a rope or a cable, as far as I know. Basically, they are orbiting a relay satellite around the L2 Lagrange point so that the relay has line of sight with both the landing point and Earth. Obviously, if it just sat at L2, the moon would be in between the relay and the Earth. Orbiting around Lagran…

> No one has caught anything with a rope or a cable, as far as I know

Soo good to have an expert here, thanks!