Chinese satellites heading to moon fail to reach orbit after rocket falters

Beijing: A pair of Chinese satellites failed to reach a planned orbit on their way to the moon after experiencing abnormalities, a rare setback for Beijing’s high-profile space programme.

The satellites, known as DRO-A and DRO-B, were launched on Wednesday evening from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in the Sichuan Province, the launch centre said in a press release on Thursday.

They were carried by A Yuanzheng-1S (Expedition-1S) upper-stage aircraft, attached to a Long March-2C carrier rocket, it said.

The first and second stages of the rocket operated normally, while the upper stage encountered an abnormality during flight, causing the satellites to fail to enter the preset orbit accurately, it said.

The relevant disposal work is currently underway, state-run Xinhua news agency reported, citing the launch centre.

The plan was for the two satellites to head towards the moon and enter a distant retrograde

orbit (DRO).