Abstract: The Chang’E 5 (CE 5) guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) system is designed to reacize China’s first lunar sample collection and return mission. Based on the mission requirements and spacecraft characteristics, the GNC system is designed as a combination of three subsystems, which are the orbiter GNC subsystem, the returner GNC subsystem, and the lander and ascender module GNC subsystem. The CE 5 GNC system architecture design, working mode design and onboard flight results are presented. According to the flight results, the GNC system design is correct. Some key actions have been successfully performed, such as powered descent, taking off from lunar surface, rendezvous and docking, and reentry into the earth. Particularly, three missions are first realized, including the taking off from the lunar surface, rendezvous and docking on the lunar orbit, and reentry into the earth with lunar samples. The flight results also show that each system performance index meets the mission requirements.

Key words: Chang’E 5, GNC system design, onboard flight results, take off from lunar surface, rendezvous and docking on lunar orbit, return and reentry