SPACE — On December 13, 2012, a Chinese spacecraft flew past the asteroid Toutatis.
Chang’e 2 was launched in 2010 initially as a lunar orbiter.
Chang’e was launched by China as part of a three-phase lunar exploration effort. The spacecraft’s primary mission is to search for potential landing sites for China’s first lunar lander, Chang’e-3.
In April 2012, it completed its primary mission and lifted off towards the asteroid Toutatis
in extended missions. It flew within 2 miles of the asteroid’s surface and captured some beautiful images of the strangely shaped space rock. Source: Space.com
2023-12-13 15:24:00
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