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Chang'e 2 enters moon orbit
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It's a big day for China's Lunar probe, Chang'e 2. The satellite has completed its speed reduction and entered the moon's orbit.
After 112 hours of flight, Chang'e 2 applied its brakes about 100 kilometers away from the moon at 11.06 am Beijing time. The whole process lasted about 33 minutes. The speed reduction allowed the satellite to enter the moon's gravitational field and begin an elliptic orbit at a speed of 12 hours per cycle. This has been a crucial moment for the lunar probe, as it had only one chance to enter the lunar orbit.
If the speed reduction had not succeeded, the satellite might have missed the moon completely. After three more speed reductions, Chang'e Two will enter a circular orbit at 100 kilometers from the moon at a speed of 117 minutes per orbit.
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