Chang'e-2 Completes Final Braking
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China's second unmanned lunar probe, Chang'e-2, has successfully completed its third, also the final, braking Saturday, which allowed the satellite to enter a 100 km-high lunar orbit, according to the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC).
Chang'e-2, following instructions from the center, started the third braking at 11:17 a.m. and entered the 118-minute, round working orbit 15 minutes later, changing the satellite's apolune from 1,825 km to about 100 km, the BACC said. The satellite will begin scientific exploration activities soon.
Chang'e-2 lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, in southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Oct. 1. The moon probe completed its first braking on Wednesday and the second on Friday.
(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2010)