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China’s Chang’e-5 lunar probe successfully carried out its first orbital correction Tuesday night, according to the Chinese National Space Administration.
The spacecraft conducted the orbital correction at 10:06 pm (Beijing time) when its 3000N engine was operational for about two seconds, then continued its journey to the moon.
Before the orbital correction, the lunar probe had traveled for about 17 hours in space and was about 160,000 km from Earth. All of the probe’s systems were in good condition, the CNSA said.
Orbital correction is needed to ensure the spacecraft follows its theoretical trajectory as closely as possible, the CNSA said.
China launched the lunar probe at 4:30 am on Tuesday to collect and return samples from the moon. It is the country’s first attempt to recover samples from an extraterrestrial body.
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