China
Chang´e one´s 1-month journey
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Source: CCTV.com | 11-26-2007 14:02
Special Report: Chang'e I -Journey to the Moon |
It's been more than a month since the Chang'e One took off from southwestern China's Xichang Satellite Launch Center. Since then, it's gone through orbital corrections, transfers and braking to send back its first picture of the moon.
Following instructions from Beijing Aerospace Control Center, the lunar probe completed four orbital transfers during the following week. It then went into the Earth-Moon transfer orbit.
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On November 5th, the probe made its first brake to slow down. It was then captured by the Moon's gravity and entered the 12-hour lunar orbit. It made its second brake the following day. And it entered its final working orbit after completing a third braking maneuver on November 7th.
Li Guoping, spokesman of China National Space Admin., said, "The probe is expected to activate all of its scientific devices and send back the first voice data later in November. The data will be dealt with according to scientific objectives in order to create the first lunar picture."
