China's Mars probe completes second orbital correction
Orbital correction.
China's Mars probe Tianwen-1 on Sunday successfully carried out its second orbital correction, according to the China National Space Administration.
The probe conducted the orbital correction at 11pm on Sunday (Beijing Time) after four of its 120N engines were in operation for 20 seconds. The performance of the 120N engines was tested simultaneously.
The probe has traveled in orbit for roughly 60 days so far, and was about 19 million km away from Earth. All of the probe's systems were in good condition, said the CNSA.
The orbital correction was carried out to ensure the probe follows the theoretical orbit as closely as possible. The probe carried out its first orbital correction on August 2.
China launched the Mars probe on July 23. It was designed to complete orbiting, landing and roving in one mission. The probe is expected to reach the red planet around February 2021.
