Relay Satellite Lunar Orbit

China’s relay satellite Queqiao-2 has successfully performed the near-moon braking procedure and entered its circumlunar orbit, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said on Monday.

After about 112 hours of flight, the satellite began to perform near-moon braking at a distance of about 440 km from the lunar surface and entered its circumlunar orbit smoothly 19 minutes later, said by CNSA. By adjusting the altitude and inclination of the circumlunar orbit, Queqiao-2 will enter its target elliptical orbit around the moon, and carry out the communications test with the lunar probes Chang’e-4 and Chang’e-6 as planned.