Chang'e-1 enters lunar orbit
Posted: Mon, Nov 5, 2007, 2:03 PM ET (1903 GMT)
Chang'e-1, China's first lunar mission, has entered orbit around the Moon, officials announced Monday. A thruster burn by the spacecraft Monday put the spacecraft into an elliptical orbit, ranging from 200 to 8,600 km above the lunar surface. Two additional thruster firings this week will put the spacecraft into a circular 200-km polar orbit. The spacecraft, launched October 24th, has gradually extended its transfer orbit around the Earth until a maneuver on October 31 put the spacecraft onto a translunar trajectory. the spacecraft is designed to operate for at least one year, returning images and other data about the Moon. Chang'e-1 is China's first mission beyond Earth orbit, and the first in a series of robotic lunar missions of increasing complexity planned for the next decade.
Chang'e-1, China's first lunar mission, has entered orbit around the Moon, officials announced Monday. A thruster burn by the spacecraft Monday put the spacecraft into an elliptical orbit, ranging from 200 to 8,600 km above the lunar surface. Two additional thruster firings this week will put the spacecraft into a circular 200-km polar orbit. The spacecraft, launched October 24th, has gradually extended its transfer orbit around the Earth until a maneuver on October 31 put the spacecraft onto a translunar trajectory. the spacecraft is designed to operate for at least one year, returning images and other data about the Moon. Chang'e-1 is China's first mission beyond Earth orbit, and the first in a series of robotic lunar missions of increasing complexity planned for the next decade.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, September 12
ISRO’s ‘privatisation’ move: What India’s space policy says
Indian Express — 2:50 am ET (0650 GMT) After €387 million raise, The Exploration Company wins ESA’s “ALADDIN” cargo capsule contract worth €760 million
EU-Startups — 2:48 am ET (0648 GMT) French ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet: Europe must 'maximise scientific return' from ISS before closure
EuroNews — 2:47 am ET (0647 GMT) Finland Urges Musk To Allow Starlink Use Against Russia
Aviation Week — 2:45 am ET (0645 GMT) Florida makes case to host new US Space Academy
WESH-TV Orlando — 2:43 am ET (0643 GMT) |
