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China’s Chang’e-5 lunar probe successfully completed its second stop at 8:23 p.m. Sunday (BJT), entering a circular lunar orbit 200 kilometers above the moon and preparing for the landing operation, according to the Center for Space Programs and Lunar Exploration. of the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
This follows its first braking the day before, which took place at a position about 400 kilometers above the moon and allowed it to be captured by the moon’s gravitational field and fly in an elliptical lunar orbit.
Read more: China’s Chang’e-5 lunar probe successfully brakes for lunar orbit
The second stop brings it closer to the moon. Over the next week, the probe, made up of four parts: the orbiter, lander, ascendant, and Earth reentry module, will perform multiple complicated tasks on a tight schedule.
The four parts will be separated into two pairs. The lander and ascendant will head to the moon and collect samples, while the orbiter and Earth reentry module will continue to fly around the moon and adjust to a designated orbit, preparing for docking with the ascendant.
The landing operation is expected in three days. Once landed on the lunar surface, the lander will collect two kilograms of lunar sample.
It will shovel some material off the surface, drill a two-meter-deep hole, and extract the earth from within, which will act as an archive of the moon, with the bottom record information from a billion years ago and the top reflecting closer. the present day.
Once the samples are secured, the ascendant will lift off from the lunar surface to transfer the lunar samples to the reentry capsule waiting in lunar orbit, which will then carry them back to Earth.
The sampling work and liftoff of the ascendant from the lunar surface should be completed within 48 hours, according to Liu Jiangang, head of the command team in Beijing.
Read more: China’s Chang’e-5 lunar mission explained in graphics
This is China’s first sample return mission and one of its most complicated and difficult space tasks by far. Only two other countries, the United States and the former Soviet Union, have brought samples from the Moon. If all goes well, it would be the world’s first unmanned sample return in 40 years.
Launched at 4:30 am on Tuesday, the Chang’e-5 probe has flown for five days. It completed the orbital corrections on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, to stay on track.
Read more: China successfully launches Chang’e-5 to collect lunar samples
China’s Chang’e-5 probe completes second orbital correction
(CGTN’s Geng Xiuhui also contributed to the story.)
