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. ' Q9 G4 a4 x! y: X" ]( N9 E% ^: K2 v( R. p
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. & ^1 ]3 v, X! q: N# X: g ! H0 \9 X& r9 K) H' A7 @This marked the first time that China has sent a spacecraft to soft land on the surface of an extraterrestrial body.9 D4 x0 U1 m+ M, S W' B/ v
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Chang'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 G$ O. v8 F! A- i) l" d5 v" `, N' S Y, b! n$ e4 z+ e6 ?
Following the successful landing, moon rover "Yutu" will leave the lander for mobile exploration while the lander will conduct surveying from its fixed position., E4 e2 f, \/ P8 W0 _3 m. h
! u8 ~# [. V1 z4 s4 RChina 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. " z: Z1 {9 ]* M; b( g# j1 D; {# d2 A& j% P
From:http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/chi ... ontent_17174832.htm