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http://www.policymic.com/articles/74781/china-is-going-to-the-moon-and-nasa-is-very-concerned-about-it
But there's a problem: NASA is already there, and fears that the Chinese mission could compromise its own. NASA's orbiting Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) is undergoing the final processes of instrument commissioning and adjustment, after which it will descend to lower lunar orbit and begin the science and observation phase of its mission.
According to John Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory scientist Jeff Plescia, "The arrival of the Chang'e 3 spacecraft into lunar orbit and then its descent to the surface will result in a significant contamination of the lunar exosphere by the propellant."
This could ruin LADEE's measurements, as one of the core goals of the NASA mission is to establish a baseline evaluation of the moon's exosphere. Propellant could throw off its observations significantly.
But there's a problem: NASA is already there, and fears that the Chinese mission could compromise its own. NASA's orbiting Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) is undergoing the final processes of instrument commissioning and adjustment, after which it will descend to lower lunar orbit and begin the science and observation phase of its mission.
According to John Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory scientist Jeff Plescia, "The arrival of the Chang'e 3 spacecraft into lunar orbit and then its descent to the surface will result in a significant contamination of the lunar exosphere by the propellant."
This could ruin LADEE's measurements, as one of the core goals of the NASA mission is to establish a baseline evaluation of the moon's exosphere. Propellant could throw off its observations significantly.
