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- Chang'e makes orbital transfer
Date: 26-Oct-2007 Sources: (Xinhua Online)
CHINA'S first lunar probe Chang'e I completed its first orbital transfer Thursday afternoon, another key move in its 380,000-kilometer journey to the moon.
The orbital transfer began at 5:55 p.m. and succeeded after 130 seconds. The probe was transferred to an orbit with a perigee of about 600 km, up from the former 200-km perigee, according to the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC).
Chinese scientists also successfully activated the first probing equipment on the Chang'e I on Thursday evening to start exploring the space environment between the earth and the moon.
The solar particle detector, which was positioned on board the satellite with seven other probing facilities, will collect data on the space expanse between 40,000 and 400,000 kilometers from Earth, according to BACC. The information it gathers will enable scientists to learn about the environment and ensure the safety of future spacecrafts.
Chang'e I blasted off on a Long March 3A carrier rocket at 6:05 p.m. Wednesday from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan.
The circumlunar satellite will experience another three accelerations, which will further shorten its distance to the moon orbit, Zhou said.
The probe will complete its second orbital transfer Friday, during which it will enter a 24-hour trajectory and orbit the earth along the new trajectory for three days.
It is expected to enter the earth-moon transfer orbit Oct. 31 and arrive in the moon's orbit Nov. 5.
Japan launched its first lunar probe, nicknamed Kaguya after a moon princess in an ancient Japanese folktale, in mid-September, and India is planning to send its own lunar probe into space next April.
Luan Enjie, chief commander of China's lunar orbiter project, said that 'China will not be involved in moon race with any other country and in any form.'
He also said China has no plan or timetable for a manned moon landing for now. 'A manned moon landing is a project with great difficulties, high risks and huge investments. A wish-list approach is not the way to go about it,'said Luan.
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