This could be Chang'e-5’s last move.
Rear View
The Change-5 orbiter from China's lunar sample return mission, which was launched last year, has changed course and appears to be headed back towards the Moon.
After transporting the Moon rocks to Earth the Change-5 orbiter returned right away toward a Lagrange Point where the gravitational pull of Earth and Sun is equal but opposite. SpaceNews reports that the spacecraft appears to have turned around after spending six months at the Lagrange Point. SpaceNews says the craft will reach the moon on Thursday morning. Although there are many possible explanations, no official announcement from Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center has been made. SpaceNews is still speculating about the orbiter.
Chang'e 5 is quickly returning to the Earth Moon system. It's precise position in space has been determined by amateur observations. This animation shows the trajectory from CE5 to lunar periapsis. pic.twitter.com/8cF7Qt02cZ Scott Tilley (@coastal8049) September 5, 2021
One last job
SpaceNews says that the most striking thing about the orbiters' spontaneous departure from deep space missions is their almost certain running out of fuel.
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According to Space.com, Jing Peng, Change-5's chief designer, said that there won't be many opportunities for orbiters to perform more complicated orbit maneuvers with other bodies. This was according to Space.com. It will remain in [the Lagrange or Earth-moon systems] I believe.
SpaceNews speculated that SpaceNews might use the lunar flyby to reroute the spacecraft to 49219 Kamooalewa. This is an asteroid close to Earth that China will be exploring during its 2024 asteroid sample returning mission. We will have to wait for official confirmation from China before we can see where the orbiter goes next.
READ MORE: China's Change-5 orbiter is headed back to the moon [SpaceNews]
More on Change-5: A Chinese Lander Dies on Lunar Surface
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