Chang´e-1 starts braking before entering moon´s orbit

Source: Xinhuanet | 11-05-2007 13:41

BEIJING, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- China's first lunar probe, Chang'e-1, started braking at perilune, which will help it slow down to enter the moon's orbit.

Instructions for the braking was issued by the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC) at around 11:15 a.m. Monday, when the probe reached a position 200 km away from the moon.

"The first braking at perilune is another key moment in the long journey of Chang'e-1," said Wang Yejun, chief engineer of the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC).

"The speed of Chang'e-1 reached 2.4 km per second when it arrived at perilune, and it would likely fly away from the moon if the braking was not conducted in time," Wang said.

China's first lunar probe, Chang'e-1, named after a legendary Chinese goddess who flew to the moon, blasted off on a Long March 3A carrier rocket on Oct. 24 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwestern Sichuan Province.

Editor:Du Xiaodan