China’s Chang’e-2 is Moon-bound and on course to enter lunar orbit after five days of flight.
Launched on October 1, Chang’e-2 is to start orbiting the Moon early this week.
The Chinese spacecraft is to enter lunar orbit, initially about 100 kilometers above the surface. It will eventually be maneuvered into an orbit just 15 kilometers above the Moon. In doing so, China’s space officials hope to gather high-resolution images of the lunar surface, particularly of the Bay of Rainbows area.
That site is being considered as the landing site for a follow-on probe, the Chang’e-3 robotic lander – and a next step in China’s lunar exploration plans.
According to Chinese news outlets China Daily and Xinhua, a trajectory change by the Chang’e-2 has placed it on target, with additional maneuvers being readied for the probe to enter lunar orbit.
Chang’e-2 blasted off on a Long-March-3C carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, in Southwest China’s Sichuan province.
China’s spacecraft will join the already orbiting NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) that has been actively surveying the Moon with an array of scientific gear, producing exciting findings since July 2009.
By LD/CSE