A cutting-edge astronomical spacecraft jointly developed by China and France was launched into its preset orbit on the afternoon of Jun 22 to capture and observe gamma-ray bursts — the most distant explosions of stars — the China National Space Administration said.
With assistance from the Que-qiao 2 relay satellite, the Chang'e 6 landing craft softly settled on the lunar surface at 6:23 am at a designated site inside the South Pole-Aitken Basin, the moon's largest, oldest and deepest basin.
A cutting-edge astronomical spacecraft jointly developed by China and France is scheduled to be deployed in orbit in June, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Innovation Academy for Microsatellites in Shanghai, which built the satellite.
The launches include the maiden flight from China's first commercial spacecraft launch site, in addition to more satellite lift-offs to form constellations, according to the press conference.
The spacecraft is tasked with around-the-clock monitoring on Chinese territories and neighboring regions.