On March 25th, the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory announced that at 1:32 a.m., Tiandu-1 and Tiandu-2, the dual satellites, completed a lunar flight of approximately 112 hours and performed a near-moon braking maneuver at a distance of 209 kilometers from the lunar surface. The four 5N engines ignited, and approximately 11 minutes later, the engines were shut down normally. According to real-time telemetry data, the near-moon braking maneuver of the Tiandu experimental satellites was successful, and they smoothly entered circumlunar orbit.

It is reported that the near-moon braking maneuver is the most critical orbital control during the lunar satellite flight. To achieve circumlunar flight, the satellite must perform a 'braking' maneuver when approaching the Moon, reducing its relative velocity to within the escape velocity of the Moon, thus being captured by lunar gravity. Subsequently, Tiandu-1 and Tiandu-2 will adjust the height and inclination of the circumlunar orbit, enter a frozen elliptical circumlunar orbit, and carry out a series of technical verifications for navigation and guidance after dual satellite separation.

Last year, the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory, jointly established by the China National Space Administration, the Anhui Provincial People's Government, and the University of Science and Technology of China, was officially approved and became the country's first laboratory in the field of deep space exploration, located in the Hefei High-tech Zone. Tiandu-1 and Tiandu-2 are the first satellites of the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory. The laboratory focuses on national major scientific and technological projects and international large-scale scientific plans in the field of deep space exploration, achieving integrated development of science, technology, and engineering, which will contribute to the development of the deep space exploration industry in our province.

Source: anhuinews.com