Off the wire
• 1st Ld-Writethru: China to cooperate with Africa on industrialization, sanitation, security: FM  • Spotlight: LatAm's women leaders spur gender equality  • 1st Ld-Writethru: China, India should strengthen cooperation to facilitate boundary issue settlement, says FM  • 2nd LD Writethru: China's Belt and Road initiatives not solo, but symphony: FM  • 2nd Ld-Writethru: China to protect rights of overseas citizens  • Houston holds photo exhibition honoring Chinese immigrant laborers  • 1st LD-Writethru: China eyes on wider, tighter int'l anti-corruption network  • 1st Ld-Writethru: China asks conscience of Japan 70 years after war  • 1st LD Writethru: China says island, reef construction in South China Sea lawful, justified  • China eyes on wider, tighter int'l anti-corruption network  
You are here: 　 Home

China's test spacecraft simulates orbital docking

Xinhua, March 8, 2015 Adjust font size:

China has ran tests close to the moon simulating an unmanned docking procedure needed in the country's next lunar mission.

The service module of the unmanned lunar orbiter currently in space to trial such techniques entered a target lunar orbit after breaking maneuvers, and flew to a suitable position for orbital docking between Tuesday and Saturday, said the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND) on Sunday.

Liu Jizhong, deputy chief commander of the SASTIND's lunar probe project, said that the service module has proven the reliability of key technology needed for the docking of two spacecraft in the Chang'e-5 mission.

The Chang'e-5 probe, expected to launch in 2017, will be tasked with landing on the moon, collecting samples and returning to Earth.

The current lunar orbiter was launched on Oct. 24, 2014. Part of its service module returned to Earth as planned in November, while the remaining part continues its lunar flight to carry out preset scientific tasks. Endi