Chang'e 1 Enters Lunar Orbit
China's Chang'e 1 spacecraft entered lunar orbit on November 5, 2007.
Published · Updated · 1 min read
The Event
China's Chang'e 1 spacecraft entered lunar orbit on November 5, 2007. It was the country's first mission to orbit the Moon.
The Wider Story
The probe studied the lunar surface and helped build experience in navigation, tracking and planetary mission operations. It carried scientific instruments rather than a crew.
Putting the Event in Perspective
The October launch and November orbital arrival are distinct dates.
Reading the Historical Record
Chang'e 1 was an orbiter, not a lander or a sample-return mission; later achievements in the Chang'e program should not be attributed to this flight.
About the Historical Recreation
The accompanying visual is an illustrative reconstruction: an illustrative Chang'e 1 spacecraft curving above the cratered Moon, no landing. It is not authentic archival footage, an eyewitness record or additional evidence for the event.
Sources
Found an error? Send a correction. Read our editorial standards.