ABSTRACT
Deep space exploration has become a topic of great interest in recent years. Following the exciting soft-landing and extraordinary roving exploration around the Moon, the Chang’E-3 probe (CE-3), equipped with the Lander and the Rover vehicles, has established a new milestone in China’s history of deep space exploration programs. CE-3’s roving exploration of the lunar surface was accomplished using power supply; thermal control; telemetry, tracking, and control (TT&C); and communications support during lunar days. Lunar radars, infrared spectrometers, panoramic cameras, and particle excitation x-ray spectrometers were used to conduct scientific exploration tasks and accumulate rich experience for the future development of China’s lunar exploration programs. CE-3 is the major component of the second phase of China’s lunar exploration program, following the deployment of Chang’E-1 (CE-1) and Chang’E-2 (CE-2) in the first phase. CE-1’s flight orbit included a phasing orbit, transfer orbit, and mission orbit, which are typical of a lunar probe orbit. Thus, a study on the orbit determination of CE-1 had important practical significance and application value.
