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The International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA) in Hawaii has signed a historic memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Astronomical Observatories (NAOC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, to use a telescope on China‘s moon lander set for launch next year.
Under the first such U.S./China collaboration, the parties agreed to establish a cooperative program to conduct astronomical imaging using the telescope on China's Chang'e-3 Moon Lander. The MOU was signed during a ceremony that took place in Kamuela, Hawaii on Sept. 4.
“This science collaboration will be part of a mission that will conduct the first soft controlled landing of any spacecraft on the Moon in almost 40 years” the ILOA said in a statement on Friday.
"It will be the first ever program to conduct astronomical imaging from the lunar surface." ILOA Founding Director Steve Durst noted.
China’s NAOC is responsible for the ultraviolet lunar telescope onboard the Chang'e-3 lander, which will be operated by the China National Space Administration.
In addition, China is planning a lunar sample return mission in 2017 named Chang’e-5. (Space News Examiner)
Steve Durst, founding director of ILOA and Jun Yan, Director General of NAOC, shake hands after signing agreement to collaborate for galaxy imaging from the Moon.(Credits:ILOA)
