北京時間12月16日9時15分,嫦娥五號軌道器和返回器組合體上25N發動機工作約8秒鐘,順利完成第二次月地轉移軌道修正,組合體上各系統狀態良好。
攜帶著珍貴月壤的嫦娥五號返回器即將結束太空之旅,在內蒙古中部草原的四子王旗著陸場著陸。
據嫦娥五號任務著陸場區指揮部成員介紹,嫦娥五號返回器採用半彈道跳躍式返回方式,也就是俗稱的“打水漂”返回方式。這種返回方式控制難度非常大,導致回收區的範圍也特別大。為此,需要採取多項措施。
截至目前,著陸場系統已經開展了三次夜間搜尋回收專項訓練、一次積雪暗夜極寒條件搜尋回收演練、一次大範圍著陸偏差和三次全系統綜合演練,搜尋隊伍具備空地協同聯合搜救能力。
The orbiter-returner combination of China's Chang'e-5 probe successfully carried out its second orbital correction in the moon-Earth transfer orbit on Wednesday, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
The orbital correction was conducted at 9:15 a.m. Beijing Time when two 25N engines of the combination were ignited and worked for about eight seconds.
All the systems on the orbiter-returner combination are in good condition.
The combination carried out the first orbital correction on Monday.
Carrying lunar samples, the returner will separate from the orbiter and go back to Earth alone. The ground team at the landing site in Siziwang Banner of north China's Inner Mongolia has been fully prepared for the historic task after multiple simulation exercises.
Comprising a lander, an ascender, an orbiter and a returner, the Chang'e-5 probe was launched on November 24. Its lander-ascender combination successfully landed on the near side of the moon on December 1, and collected samples from both the lunar surface and beneath.