Payload topography camera of Chang'e-3

• Published in: Research in astronomy and astrophysics 2015-11, Vol.15 (11), p.1881-1892
• Main Authors: Yu, Guo-Bin, Liu, En-Hai, Zhao, Ru-Jin, Zhong, Jie, Zhou, Xiang-Dong, Zhou, Wu-Lin, Wang, Jin, Chen, Yuan-Pei, Hao, Yong-Jie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cameras; Exploration; instrumentation: detectors; Lander vehicles; Lunar surface; Lunar topography; Missions; Moon; Pictures; techniques: image processing
• ISSN: 1674-4527
• DOI: 10.1088/1674-4527/15/11/010

Chang'e-3 was China's first soft-landing lunar probe that achieved a successful roving exploration on the Moon. A topography camera functioning as the lander's "eye" was one of the main scientific payloads installed on the lander. It was composed of a camera probe, an electronic component that performed image compression, and a cable assembly. Its exploration mission was to obtain optical images of the lunar topography in the landing zone for investigation and research. It also observed rover movement on the lunar surface and finished taking pictures of the lander and rover. After starting up successfully, the topography camera obtained static images and video of rover movement from different directions, 360° panoramic pictures of the lunar surface around the lander from multiple angles, and numerous pictures of the Earth. All images of the rover, lunar surface, and the Earth were clear, and those of the Chinese national flag were recorded in true color. This paper describes the exploration mission, system design, working principle, quality assessment of image compression, and color correction of the topography camera. Finally, test results from the lunar surface are provided to serve as a reference for scientific data processing and application.