标题: 【Daily Reading】 Chang'e-3 moon landing set for Sat. [打印本页] 作者: vivian 时间: 2013-12-14 21:48 标题: 【Daily Reading】 Chang'e-3 moon landing set for Sat. BEIJING - China's lunar probe Chang'e-3 landed on the moon on Saturday night, according to sources in charge of the mission. The entire process of soft-landing lasted 12 minutes and was performed by the probe itself, said the sources on Saturday, adding that the Chang'e-3 mission has so far proceeded as planned. % P& w7 K) R4 r6 x' i, g n S; V4 a* `
The probe started decelerating from 15 km above the lunar surface and its relative speed was reduced from 1.7 km/s to nil. It stayed suspended at 100 meters above the moon to assess the landing area to avoid obstacles and locate the final landing spot.. n5 \( f' |) A+ G) r/ T# v
- O5 ~3 z+ I/ B; ^: w# @7 F! aThis marked the first time that China has sent a spacecraft to soft land on the surface of an extraterrestrial body. 5 h, Z# d9 B }6 } 2 U9 R* F! G+ p- u# e; w! KChang'e-3 landed in Sinus Iridum, or the Bay of Rainbows, a lunar area that remains unstudied and should enable smooth communication and ample sunshine with its level terrain. 1 l* o! Z1 {# e 3 c# Z9 B0 ?9 w8 LFollowing the successful landing, moon rover "Yutu" will leave the lander for mobile exploration while the lander will conduct surveying from its fixed position. " F( T5 k1 Y1 s' n, i6 k+ ~# J1 ~" T8 N* w
China launched the Chang'e-3 lunar probe with the country's first moon rover onboard on December 2, marking a significant step toward deep space exploration.3 p* T1 a3 {, g$ k6 K
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From:http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/chi ... ontent_17174832.htm