Author Topic: A Tiny Chinese Lunar Orbiter Just Crashed on the Moon's Far Side (on Purpose)  (Read 1965 times)

adroth

  • Administrator
  • Boffin
  • *****
  • Posts: 14417
    • View Profile
    • The ADROTH Project
A Tiny Chinese Lunar Orbiter Just Crashed on the Moon's Far Side (on Purpose)
By Leonard David a day ago Spaceflight

https://www.space.com/china-micro-moon-orbiter-longjiang2-crashes.html

China's tiny lunar orbiter Longjiang-2, also known as DSLWP-B, crashed intentionally into the moon's far side on July 31, according to media reports.

The 104-lb. (47 kilograms) Longjiang-2 was sent into space on May 21, 2018, along with the Chang'e 4 lunar probe's relay satellite, and entered orbit around the moon four days later. (Longjiang-2's sister satellite, Longjiang-1, failed to reach lunar orbit.)

The small spacecraft operated in orbit for 437 Earth days, exceeding its one-year designed lifespan. It was then brought down in a controlled fashion at 10:20 a.m. EDT (1420 GMT; 10:20 p.m. Beijing time) on July 31, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported, citing the China National Space Administration's Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center as a source.

< Edited >