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China launches Chang'e 2 lunar probe
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October 3, 2010
Original URL: http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/China_launches_Chang%27e_2_lunar_probe



China launched its second unmanned lunar exploration probe, Chang'e 2,
on Friday from the province of Sichuan.

Chang'e 2 is part of a Chinese initiative to test skills and technology
that could lead to unmanned landings in the future. The head of the
orbiter's design team was quoted by Xinhua as saying: "Chang'e 2 lays
foundation for the soft-landing on the moon and further exploration of
outer space. It (will) travel faster and closer to the moon, and it will
capture clear pictures."

Launched in 2007, the preceding unmanned Chang'e 1 mission took around
thirteen days to reach lunar orbit. Chang'e 2 is expected to take around
five.

Once Chang'e 2 arrives at the moon, it is planned that the probe will be
put into an orbit less than 100 kilometers from the surface as opposed
to the 200 kilometer orbit of the previous Chang'e 1. The probe will
then be put into a 15 kilometer orbit to survey possible landing sites
for the unmanned Chang'e 3 mission. 

== Sources == 

* http://www.lanewsmonitor.com/news/China-Launches-Second-Lunar-Exploration-Probe--Change-2-1286044882/
* http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-10/02/c_13540276.htm



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