China Moon Probe - Onward to New Heights. Credit: CNSA
Chinese space officials have announced that their second lunar orbiter – Chang’e-2 – has departed the Moon and is headed for deep space.
Making use of leftover propellant, the spacecraft will reportedly carry out additional exploratory tasks.
According to the Xinhua news service, scientists hope the satellite can continue operations until the end of next year.
Chang’e-2 had finished all its tasks within its designed life span of six months by April 1.
Before departing the Moon, the probe had completed two additional tasks as of May 23:
- Take photos of the northern and southern poles of the Moon.
- Descend again to the perilune orbit, about 15 kilometers away from the lunar landscape, to take high-resolution images of the Sinus Iridum — or Bay of Rainbows — the proposed landing spot for future Chinese Moon missions.
China is engaged in a three-phase Moon exploration program, following the lunar orbiter missions.
A follow-on phase includes a Moon landing and deployment of a Moon rover in roughly the 2012 time period. A third phase around 2017 involves another rover that will land on the Moon and return to Earth lunar soil and stone samples for scientific research.
Chang’e-2 was launched from China in October 2010.
By Leonard David