Satellites miss orbit: setback for Chinese moon mission

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China has suffered a rare setback in its space program. As state news agency Xinhua reported on Thursday, Chinese satellites “DRO-A” and “DRO-B” missed their planned orbit after their launch on Wednesday.

“The rocket’s first and second stages functioned normally, while the upper stage encountered an anomaly during the flight that prevented the satellites from arriving precisely in the specified orbit,” Xinhua said. A solution is being sought.

Laser-based navigation between Earth and Moon

Apparently the satellites had the moon in their sights. This was reported, among others, by the usually well-informed American space journalist Andrew Jones and the Hong Kong ‘South China Morning Post’.

Both cited a study that Chinese scientists published last year in the Journal of Deep Space Exploration. There was talk about the satellites “DRO-A” and “DRO-B”, which would be placed in orbit around the moon. From there they would have to communicate with a third satellite called “DRO-L” in orbit. The satellite “DRO-L” was launched in February.

The purpose of the three satellites is to test advanced laser-based navigation between Earth and the moon. This technology could help China in future moon missions.

NASA wants to land on the moon in 2026

China aims to complete its first manned landing on Earth’s satellite by 2030. The Chinese are already planning a new unmanned mission to the moon this year with the “Chang’e-6” mission to take soil samples.

After decades, the moon has once again become the center of international space travel and has also become a prestigious destination for several competing states due to its technically very demanding missions. The American space agency NASA wants to return astronauts to the moon in 2026. (SDA)

Source: Blick