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. ; T' |" G' x2 z7 H7 q; M! M( ?+ u5 o9 j; Z
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., u p( \& W S$ t u, a
# u2 I2 l! h$ ~7 j+ e0 JThis marked the first time that China has sent a spacecraft to soft land on the surface of an extraterrestrial body. : K: ?; q! ]2 o, v+ V' _3 O' ^# U4 }. H- l" S6 H5 P, ]! P9 Y
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. $ X: j1 x3 U+ \; |3 A8 k1 E4 v" z3 F; E; O0 u" }
Following the successful landing, moon rover "Yutu" will leave the lander for mobile exploration while the lander will conduct surveying from its fixed position.6 o- f; H$ ^" T9 k
$ i o4 \- V+ w& P: l' bChina 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.# a0 e" V; i9 z- r