19 January 2019
From the NASA press release: "Since the beginning of its mission, NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has imaged objects impacting the surface of the Moon. This past month, NASA held discussions with the China National Space Administration (CNSA) to explore the possibility of observing a signature of the landing plume of their lunar lander, Chang’e 4, using LRO’s LAMP instrument. Since the Chinese landing, LRO instruments have been collecting data that are currently being analysed. LRO is expected to image the Chang’e 4 landing site on January 31 in a manner similar to what was done on Chang’e 3.  NASA and CNSA have agreed that any significant findings resulting from this coordination activity will be shared with the global research community at the 56th session of the Scientific and Technology Subcommittee meeting of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space meeting in Vienna, Austria, February 11-22, 2019. All NASA data associated with this activity are publicly available. In accordance with Administration and Congressional guidance, NASA’s cooperation with China is transparent, reciprocal and mutually beneficial."
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related:
link to the Xinhua news about the topic: NASA cooperates with China on Moon exploration
Farside Politics: NASA/China Coordination on Chang’e 4 Lander
19 January 2019
Leonard David summarises what is known about NASA's supportive efforts for China's lunar exploration missions.

The latest issue of the GoTaikonauts! newsletter, the issue no 23 is published. The brochure contains the quarterly report of the first quarter of 2018 and an interview with Prof. Dr. Bernd Madauss who looks back at an intensive experience in space project management in China. Also, a short article explains the details of Civilian-Military Integration and an infographic summarises the milestones of CAST's Space Transportation System Road Map up to 2045.
For the longer read, Chen Lan is describing his impressions of traveling to the Jiuquan launch site to attend LandSpace’s orbital launch attempt on 27 October 2018. And last but not least, Donovan Cosby reports from China’s airshow event in Zhuhai. In a very entertaining account he reflects on his personal impressions of the event and gives advice on how to travel to Zhuhai Airshow.
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17 January 2019
Chinese and Russian scientists will work together to explore water and ice on the moon, according to a Russian scientist Vladimir Khmelyov, a professor at the Altai State Technical University. He said on 15 January that the ultrasonic drilling project has won financing from Russia's Fundamental Research Fund and China's National Natural Science Fund. In this project, the scientists will explore and develop the physical principles of the ultrasonic drilling of extraterrestrial surfaces to discover water and ice, including on the far side of the moon and on Mars, which will help develop lunar and Martian research in the future, Russia's Tass News Agency reported. "The project is designed for two years," said Khmelyov. "It relates to joint work: We will carry out preliminary research for the Chinese side to study the process of ultrasonic drilling."
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17 January 2019
On January 11, approved by China Meteorological Administration (CMA), FY-2E meteorological satellite (located over 86.5°E) was officially out of operation. During 9-year operation, FY-2E has realized two space shifts, formed network observation with FY-2D and FY-2G successively, and completed 104 thousand times of observations, which has made crucial contribution to meteorological observation in China and Asia as well.
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