China’s second unmanned lunar probe maneuvers to correct trajectory
By ANISunday, October 3, 2010
NEW DELHI - China’s second unmanned lunar probe, Chang’e-2, was maneuvered to correct its trajectory on the earth-moon transfer orbit Saturday.
Scientists successfully activated the attitude control engines on Chang’e-2 and trimmed the satellite for the first time on its journey, according to a flight control official in Beijing, Xinhua reports.
“During Chang’e-2’s 380,000-km journey to the moon, we will conduct more orbit corrections if necessary to ensure that it enters a lunar orbit,” said Ma Yongping, vice director of the flight control center.
Chang’e-2 blasted off on a Long-March-3C carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, at about 7 p.m. Friday.
It is China’s first unmanned spacecraft to be boosted from the launch site directly to the earth-moon transfer orbit, greatly reducing the journey time from that of its predecessor Chang’e-1, Xinhua reports. (ANI)
