Whether it is the craze of lunar exploration in the sixties and seventies of the twentieth century, or the lunar exploration program launched after entering the new century.

Most probes and manned exploration spacecraft explore areas where the equatorial plane of the moon is located.

The shadow zone of the Moon, which has not yet been explored.

The ancients of China once regarded these black shadows on the moon as the palace residence of the immortals.

It is said that Guanghan Palace.

"This time, we're going to explore these never-before-explored areas!" Zhang Xingyang said excitedly as he looked at the operation chart of Chang'e-1, which was about to start the lunar collision program.

Chang'e-1, in more than a year, has flown hundreds of times around the moon, taken a large number of photos of the lunar surface, and made many explorations of the geology of the lunar surface.

Now, at the end of his career, it will still play a big role.

Hit the surface of the moon and exert the last vestiges of your residual heat.

The choice of the location of the impact has become the top priority of this task.

This point was confirmed when the Chang'e-1 mission was formulated.

That is, crashing into the shadow of the moon.

This moon shadow, near the north pole of the moon, is a shadow within a shadow.

Because the axis of rotation of the Moon itself is perpendicular to the ecliptic plane of the solar system, the polar regions do not receive much sunlight.

It is even more likely that those polar craters have not been exposed to sunlight for billions of years.

It can be described as a dark place in the solar system all year round.

Now, Chang'e-1 will voluntarily fall into it, bringing a glimmer of light to these craters.

In fact, whether it is worth it or not has been widely discussed within and outside the entire project team.

Because the way to create light in these places is to knock out a crater and open a gap through Chang'e-1.

The key point of discussion was whether it was worth changing the geological structure of the moon in this way.

At that time, the speeches of both sides of the debate were very intense, and Zhang Xingyang still remembers the scene at that time.

The opponent was the first to stand up, slap the table and say:

"According to the Moon Agreement, any country that conducts lunar exploration has an obligation to avoid pollution of the lunar environment, and we consider the pollution caused by the impact of polar craters to be irreversible pollution."

"Therefore, we are categorically opposed to impact experiments in the polar regions!"

Their claims are not unreasonable.

Because the environment inside the crater in the polar crater of the moon has been maintained for hundreds of millions of years.

If the impact point is located here, it is difficult for the effects to attenuate naturally over time.

Because of the bright surface near the moon's equator, the impact of meteorites and the impact of the solar wind are relatively strong.

When Chang'e-1 hits these places, the effects will quickly disappear.

Proponents are less concerned about this, and they have more specific reasons:

"First of all, our country is not a party to the Moon Agreement, which does not bind us."

In fact, at this point in time, none of the countries and organizations in the world that have the ability to carry out lunar exploration programs have signed the Moon Agreement.

Neither the initiating nor the contracting countries have the strength to conduct actual lunar exploration.

Therefore, everyone does not attach much importance to this agreement.

This situation will not end until nearly 20 years later, when the third brother completes the lunar exploration program.

"Secondly, it is of great scientific value to carry out impact experiments in polar impact craters!"

This is also the main reason why most people know that this may cause environmental pollution on the moon, but still insist on it.

The value of scientific research has made everyone selectively abandon their insistence on environmental protection on the lunar surface.

According to the current theory, it is likely that there is a large amount of solid water ice in the polar impact crater.

If this can be confirmed, it will have a huge impact on the future development of the moon.

At the very least, the detection area in the future will definitely be more biased towards the polar regions.

Because, with water, there are many things.

For example, water is the source of life, is there life if there is water?

Although the Moon's core has now completely cooled, it was active a long time ago.

At that time, the temperature and the environment were definitely more likely to produce life.

Even if we don't talk about the value of these scientific aspects, the availability of water means that some processing industries and plantations can be carried out more conveniently.

It doesn't have to be so troublesome to transport supplies from the Earth hundreds of thousands of kilometers away to the moon.

This is a very good thing for the permanent lunar surface scientific research base.

At the end of the debate, Zhang Xingyang also expressed his opinion:

"In my opinion, the first thing to consider in a lunar impact is the scientific research value, and the polar impact program undoubtedly has higher scientific research value."

"Secondly, we can solve the problem of environmental pollution in the future."

When Zhang Xingyang said this, he glanced at the many people present, and then said slowly:

"In the future, we want to build a permanent lunar base on the lunar surface."

"When the time comes, we will have plenty of time to solve these environmental pollution problems."

"It's not just the pollution we cause, it's all the countries that have ever been on the moon!"

Compared with the previous two speeches, Zhang Xingyang's speech actually has a more conciliatory flavor.

As Mr. Lu Xun said:

The temperament of Chinese people always likes to be harmonious and eclectic. If you say that this house is too dark, you must open a window here, and you will not allow it. But if you advocate tearing down the roof, they will come to reconcile and be willing to open the windows.

Zhang Xingyang's statement is more acceptable than the previous two remarks.

Therefore, the lunar collision experiment of Chang'e-1 was thus determined.

For this impact experiment, in fact, there are other preparations in the lunar exploration plan.

Because according to pre-calculations, when Chang'e-1 hits a crater in the polar regions, it will stir up a super-high plume.

This is mainly due to the fact that the Moon's gravity is very low, and the kinetic energy attenuation of the splash is very weak.

The dust plume caused by the impact will go into space.

In order to be able to detect these substances, a small satellite was launched to detect them before the impact experiment began.

Because the use of satellites is mainly to detect the material composition of plumes.

So the satellite is not large, and there are only three instruments on it.

However, it is possible to analyze the substance more accurately.

In particular, one of the optical spectrum analyzers is a new product that has just been designed and produced this year.

Everyone also hopes to find out whether there is a large amount of water ice in the polar regions of the moon through it!

"Has the impact procedure begun?"

Qin Ming, who hurried to the control center, asked.

Chang'e-1 needs to accelerate through gravity and its own electricity in the final stage to maximize its speed.

In order to be able to reach the maximum kinetic energy.

"It's not long since it started, and it's about 12 hours."

Zhang Xingyang raised his head from the front of the screen and said:

"It's a long time, so there's no hurry."

"I don't want to miss such an important moment."

After Qin Ming sat down, he said without panting.

For scientific researchers, this moment is indeed very special.

Chang'e-1 will unveil the tip of the iceberg that has long been hidden under the veil of the moon goddess.

How can it not be exciting?!

Because on impact, Chang'e-1 will detonate the last bit of solid fuel it carries.

So, in the process, there will also be a strong flash of light.

On Earth, even on clear skies, this phenomenon can be seen with the help of small-aperture optical telescopes.

For example, among astronomy enthusiasts, the 150 mm Newtonian telescope is quite popular.

This phenomenon can also be seen very clearly.

Many optical telescopes in domestic and foreign observatories were aimed at the Arctic region of the moon on this day.

I hope to see this very rare man-made astronomical phenomenon.

"Our optical telescopes, are they ready?" Zhang Xingyang suddenly turned his head and asked at Qin Ming at this time.

The reason why Qin Ming came so late was largely because he went to communicate with the observatory about the optical telescope.

The size of optical telescopes in these years has not reached the meter level as commonly as in later generations.

However, the observatory's telescope is still relatively advanced, with a 60-centimeter large-aperture telescope.

"Once it's coordinated, there will be real-time tracking when the time comes."

Qin Ming took a breath and calmed down his breath and said.

It's 3 p.m., and according to the scheduled estimates, Chang'e-1 will hit the crater at the moon's north pole at around 12 a.m.

Today is still the sixteenth day of the lunar calendar, which happens to be the largest and clearest time of the moon.

It is very advantageous for the observation of optical telescopes.

Zhang Xingyang was slightly relieved when he heard Qin Ming's affirmative answer.

In fact, there are very few things that optical telescopes can detect.

For their research plan, it didn't help much.

However, there is another aspect that is incomparable.

And that's that it can be videography.

When a cryo-CCD camera is attached, the phenomenon at the time of the impact can be captured very clearly.

It is very helpful for propaganda work.

The war of public opinion is also a major reason why Zhang Xingyang attaches great importance to this.

After these photos and videos are released, it will be worth it to boost everyone's self-confidence!

If you want to really complete the detection of the material stirred up by the impact, you still need to rely on the exploration satellite that Zhang Xingyang launched not long ago.

This satellite, because of its short life and single function, did not even have a nice name.

It's just that, in accordance with functions and conventions, the name of a lunar substance detection satellite 1 was taken.

As time passes, Chang'e-1 is getting faster and faster in the process of being pushed by its own engines and constantly lowering its orbit!

After nine hours of acceleration, Chang'e-1 has reached its maximum speed of 2.66 kilometers per second!

At this speed, it is basically impossible to put it on the earth.

Because of the atmospheric resistance, the aircraft quickly overheats and burns.

Only in an environment with low gravity and low material density like the moon can such a fast speed be achieved.

"The acceleration stage of the lunar collision program has been completed, and the angle of impact is being adjusted!"

Qin Ming's eyes were glued to the screen in front of him, and he said loudly.

The location of the impact of Chang'e-1 has long been determined.

The thrust engine has stopped working at this time, and the attitude adjustment engine has started to work!

In fifteen minutes, the angle adjustment was completed.

"Chang'e-1 has a normal attitude and has entered the final impact stage!"

Beads of sweat faintly appeared on Qin Ming's forehead.

It can be seen that he is also nervous now.

On the earth, in the hemisphere in the middle of the night, at least hundreds of telescopes of all kinds are aimed at the moon, hoping to see the moment of light!

At the beginning of the design of Chang'e-1, the impact was taken into account.

A camera and signal transmission system was designed that could also take effect after an impact.

However, Zhang Xingyang also once said that after the impact is completed, the probability of successfully completing the shooting and data transmission can be completed.

It won't be more than twenty percent.

That is, basically, it is impossible to succeed.

However, everyone still wanted to try it, so they still installed such a system.

"The Lunar Substance Detection Satellite 1 has turned on the material analyzer."

On the other hand, the colleague in charge of satellite work has also made all preparations.

Now wait for Chang'e-1 to crash into a crater in the middle of the North Pole!

At 12:31:20, Chang'e-1 entered the shadow zone and sent back the last message.

In the next 120 milliseconds, a burst of intense flash erupted over the Moon's North Pole impact crater!

The light even continues beyond the surface of the moon.

It's as if on the surface of the moon like a jade plate, a spike suddenly grows!

"Is there any data for the spectrum recorder?"

The mission is different from that of a normal day, and this impact means that everyone's mission has just begun.

"There you have it, the spectrum is out."

The fastest is the one for optical spectrum analyzers.

Although the accuracy of the analysis is relatively low, at a distance of hundreds of thousands of kilometers, only light can transmit these data back in the first time.

Zhang Xingyang took the spectral data and looked at it carefully.

A minute later, I happily flicked the paper version of the report and laughed:

"Same as I thought!"

"Spectral analysis of the surface, containing a lot of hydrogen and oxygen!"

Spectral analysis does not directly determine the type of substance, only the proportion of various elements in it.

But judging from the large amount of hydrogen and oxygen, there must be a lot of water!

By the next day, the Lunar Matter Detection 1 satellite had also captured a large amount of water vapor from the plume!

"We detected more than 1.6 million liters of water vapor from the plume!"

Zhou Xuan, who is in charge of the No. 1 lunar material detection satellite, reported the good news to everyone as soon as he got the information.

"It turns out that there must be a lot of water ice in the polar craters of the Moon!"

This news, although it has not yet formed a formal paper.

However, it has sparked a lot of discussion on a global scale!

Almost overnight, the whole world knew that the Dragons had found water on the moon! (End of chapter)