China’s Tiandu-1 satellite has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by entering a special Earth-moon resonant orbit, scientists announced on Tuesday. This marks the first time a probe has successfully navigated this intricate path.
On May 22, after a week of rigorous testing, Tiandu-1 completed an orbital maneuver that placed it into a ‘3-to-1 Earth-moon resonant orbit.’ This means the satellite orbits Earth three times for every one orbit made by the moon, creating a graceful, petal-like pattern between the two celestial bodies.
The Deep Space Exploration Laboratory explained that this orbit has special mechanical properties, allowing the satellite to maintain its path with relatively low energy consumption. This efficiency could be crucial for future missions and infrastructure development between Earth and the moon.
‘The successful entry of Tiandu-1 into this orbit is a significant step forward for our lunar exploration program,’ said a spokesperson for the laboratory. ‘The flight data collected will enhance our understanding of spacecraft navigation and control in complex gravitational environments.’
Launched in March 2024 alongside the Queqiao-2 relay satellite, Tiandu-1 and its counterpart Tiandu-2 have already completed multiple in-orbit technology tests. Tiandu-1 will continue its extended mission to verify key technologies for a comprehensive Earth-moon navigation and communication constellation system.
This achievement is expected to support China’s ambitious long-term plans for lunar exploration, potentially paving the way for new advancements in space travel and communication.
