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Chang'e-2 ready to photograph Bay of Rainbows

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-10-27 07:36

BEIJING - Chinese scientists maneuvered the country's second lunar probe Chang'e-2 to an experimental orbit Tuesday evening, making preparations for taking pictures of the moon's Sinus Iridum, or Bay of Rainbows.

Special Coverage: China's second lunar probe Related readings:  Chang'e-2 expected to have enough fuel to return to earth  Chang'e-2 in working orbit after 3rd braking  China's 2nd lunar probe Chang'e-2 blasts off

Scientists successfully activated four attitude control engines on Chang'e-2 and sent the satellite into the orbit with a perilune of just 15 kilometer above the moon, according to a flight control official in Beijing.

Chang'e-2 was launched on Oct 1 by a Long March-3C carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest China's Sichuan province.

It will photograph the Bay of Rainbows region with its CCD cameras from Wednesday, according to the center.