China's first lunar orbiter Chang'e I will change its posture to
get positioned on the moon late tonight, and activate probing
facilities aboard afterwards to get ready for scientific
exploration, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said
yesterday.
The satellite has gone through a number of tests since it
entered the 127-minute polar circular orbit about 200 km away from
the moon's surface on November 7, according to Pei Zhaoyu, the
spokesman for CNSA.
"All the tests indicate Chang'e I is working properly," said
Pei, "and the satellite is in a very good state."
"The power supply is stable; its posture and temperature is
under normal control; and its communication with the earth is
smooth," Pei said.
After Monday's maneuvers, the satellite will officially kick off
scientific exploration of the moon.
During the process, it will also position its solar panel toward
the sun for power generating and the directional antenna towards
the Earth to allow data to be transmitted back to the Earth.
The 2,350-kg satellite carried eight probing facilities,
including a stereo camera and interferometer, an imager and
gamma/X-ray spectrometer, a laser altimeter, a microwave detector,
a high energy solar particle detector and a low energy ion
detector.
The satellite is expected to relay back its first picture of the
moon in late November.
The satellite aims to fulfill four scientific objectives,
including a three-dimensional survey of the moon's surface,
analysis of the abundance and distribution of elements on lunar
surface, an investigation of the characteristics of lunar regolith
and the powdery soil layer on the surface, and an exploration of
the circumstance between the earth and the moon.
Chang'e I is designed to stay on its final working orbit for one
year.
(Xinhua News Agency November 19, 2007)