Panoramic cameras help achieve "complete success" of Chang'e 4 mission

The panoramic cameras created by the Xi'an Institute of Optical Precision Machinery, Chinese Academy of Sciences, helped achieve the "complete success" of the Chang'e 4 mission, which conducted mankind's first surface observation of the moon's far side.

The China National Space Administration said in a statement that the two components of the Chang'e 4 robotic probe -- the lander and the Yutu 2, or Jade Rabbit 2, rover -- took pictures of each other that were transmitted to ground control via the Queqiao relay satellite.

 Chang'e 4 Panoramic Cameras[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The panoramic camera is responsible for taking color photographs of the lander. Two identical cameras are mounted on the mast of the rover. By using the principle of binocular stereo vision similar to human eyes, three-dimensional images of the lunar surface in the patrol area can be obtained. By using the left-right rotation of the mast and the up-down pitch, panoramic images of the large field of view and the up-down and down-down areas can be achieved. Then, panoramic three-dimensional images of the lunar patrol area can be obtained by image mosaics and stereo inversion.The Panoramic Camera of Yutu 2 Rover photographed Chang'e 4 Lander [Photo provide to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Chang'e 4 panoramic camera has two imaging modes: black-and-white and color. It can achieve clear imaging from the foot of the inspector to the margin of the moon, and can achieve millimeter-scale spatial resolution in close observation. Images taken by panoramic camera will also play a guiding role in the detection of other loads on the rover.

Aiming at the scientific layout of the national lunar exploration project and deep space exploration, the Xi'an institute has set up a lunar and deep space exploration technology research laboratory as a key component of long-term participation in China's lunar exploration project.

Since the first phase of the lunar exploration project, the team has undertaken the development of payloads such as the Chang'e-1 CCD stereo camera and interferometric imaging spectrometer, Chang'e-2’s CCD stereo camera, the panoramic camera and moon-based optical telescope of Chang'e-3, and Chang'e-4’s panoramic camera. They successfully completed required engineering tasks and reached all scientific objectives.

As the main force with rich experience and exquisite technology in the field of deep space exploration in China, the institute is currently undertaking the follow-up mission of the Moon Exploration Project and the first Mars Exploration Project.

The institute will closely focus on the needs of National Space Science and engineering, and actively participate in planning for national further lunar exploration projects as well as asteroid exploration, Jupiter exploration and other deep space exploration project missions, taking new steps in the field of deep space exploration.