[FPSPACE] Chang'e mission to be extended to two years.

[Peter Pesavento]

>From Agency France Presse..

 

http://rawstory.com/news/afp/China_s_moon_probe_may_double_life__11062007.ht
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China's moon probe may double life span due to fuel savings

 

The life of China's maiden lunar probe could be doubled since smooth
operations during the 14-day flight have allowed the Chang'e I to save
crucial fuel supplies, state press said Tuesday.

China's inaugural lunar probe signalled the Asian giant's growing space
ambitions and its participation in a renewed race to explore the moon,
pitting it against rivals Japan and India.

"So far, orbital transfers of the probe have all been done accurately," Bian
Bingxiu of the China Aerospace and Technology Corporation was quoted as
saying by Xinhua news agency.

"The precise ground manoeuvres and orbital transfers have saved a lot of
fuel, which may prolong the probe's working time on its final orbit by
around one year."

It was initially estimated that the life of the Chang'e I would be about one
year.

After entering lunar orbit on Monday, the spacecraft braked for the second
time on Tuesday and will need to do so one more time before entering its
"working" or "final" orbit, the report said.

The lunar probe is scheduled to enter its final orbit on Wednesday, when the
spacecraft will circle around the moon once every 127 minutes from a stable
altitude of about 200 kilometres (125 miles) above the surface.

At that time, Chang'e I will begin its mission of photographing and mapping
the lunar surface. Its first pictures are not expected to be transmitted
until late in November.