China lança a sonda Chang’e-3 e o rover Yutu para a Lua!

Exemplo de notícia num jornal Português: http://www.jn.pt/PaginaInicial/Sociedade/Interior.aspx?content_id=3563849

A Europa e a ESA tentam acompanhar e apoiar estes novos esforços de exploração…

1) Apoio nas telecomunicações: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Operations/Helping_China_to_the_Moon

The landing, in the Sea of Rainbows on 14 December, will be the first since Russia’s Luna-24 in 1976.

Immediately after liftoff, ESA’s station in Kourou, French Guiana, will start receiving signals from the mission and uploading commands on behalf of the Chinese control centre.

The tracking will run daily throughout the voyage to the Moon. Then, during descent and after landing, ESA’s deep-space stations will pinpoint the craft’s path and touchdown.

2) Colaboração com a Russia: http://congrexprojects.com/2014-events/14c05a/introduction

Through a developing cooperation between ESA and Roscosmos in the area of lunar exploration an opportunity has arisen for European scientific investigators to participate in the Russian led missions Luna-25 (Luna-Glob lander), 26 (luna-Resurs orbiter) and 27 (Luna-Resurs lander).

3) Aspectos científicos e técnicos: http://congrexprojects.com/2014-events/14c05/introduction

Science and Challenges of Lunar Sample Return Workshop
18 – 19 February 2014

The Moon is an important exploration destination for ESA and is considered to be the next destination for humans beyond Low Earth Orbit. European access to the lunar surface is most likely to be made through cooperation with international partners and opportunities for international cooperation in the broad area of lunar exploration are being investigated .