[FPSPACE] China To Finish High-Res Topographic Lunar Map By September

[LARRY KLAES]

China To Finish High-Res Topographic Lunar Map By September

 

In November 2008, China created the country's first full map of the lunar surface with the image data captured by the satellite-born camera on Chang'e-1. 

 

Beijing (XNA) Aug 10, 2009

 

China will complete a 3D topographic map of the moon by the end of September, according to a chief designer with the project on Wednesday, calling the map the "clearest" in the world.

 

"Currently, most of the lunar topographic maps were made by data acquired by laser altimeter instruments. With the large amount of highly-detailed images taken by Chang'e-1, the map we are making will be of the highest resolution in the world," Li Chunlai, chief designer of the ground application system with the project, told Xinhua.

 

Chang'e-1 acquired more than 9 million pieces of valid elevation data, which enabled the country's scientists to make a topographic map with 3-kilometer resolution per pixel, said Li, also a senior official with the National Astronomical Observatories under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

 

The topographic map will serve as a guide for future lunar rovers to search the moon surface for geological resources.

 

Full article here:

 

http://www.moondaily.com/reports/China_To_Finish_High_Res_Topographic_Lunar_Map_By_September_999.html

 

 
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