Chang'e 2 [Sina News]
Chang'e 2 is China's second lunar orbiter project. Chang'e 2 was originally built as the back up to Chang'e 1, but was outfitted with improved instruments for a launch in 2010.
Chang'e 2 features cameras with an improved resolution of 10 meter at 100 km altitude and 1.5 meter at 15 km altitude. Gamma-ray and x-ray spectroscopy is employed to study the content of the lunar surface.
Chang'e 2 had finished its mission in lunar orbit on 1. April 2011. On 9. June 2011, Chang'e 2 left lunar orbit and entered a course to the Sun-Earth Lagrangian Point L2 for engineering tests.
After this, Chang'e 2 set a course to asteroid (4179) Toutatis, where it made a successful fly-by on 12. December 2012.
| Nation: | China |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Lunar orbiter |
| Operator: | CNSA |
| Contractors: | CAST |
| Equipment: | |
| Configuration: | DFH-3A Bus |
| Propulsion: | ? |
| Power: | 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries |
| Lifetime: | 6 months |
| Mass: | 2480 kg |
| Orbit: | 15 km × 100 km lunar orbit |
| Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chang'e 2 (CE 2) | 2010-050A | 01.10.2010 | Xi LC-2 | CZ-3C |