China's Yuanwang-5 returns after 3 successful monitoring missions

PLA Daily

Source: China Military Online
Editor: Li Jiayao

2020-12-15 17:20:14

By Qi Chuang and Gao Chao

NANJING, Dec. 15 -- The space-tracking ship Yuanwang-5 returned to the port of the China Satellite Maritime Tracking and Controlling Department on December 14 after successfully carrying out three monitoring missions in the Pacific Ocean.

It is learnt that Yuanwang-5 has changed its sailing plan and returned in advance after operating 82 days at sea and sailing more than 18,000 nautical miles due to the rescheduling of a satellite launch mission. To date the ship has operated over 220 days at sea cumulatively this year, setting a new record, and has sailed over 510,000 nautical miles in total, equivalent to sailing around the earth for 23.7 times.

During the oceangoing mission, Yuanwang-5 and Yuanwang-6 jointly carried out maritime monitoring and provided crucial support for the launch of the Chang'e 5 lunar probe.

After Yuanwang-5 berths at the port, personnel recovery, equipment maintenance, spare parts supplement and other work will be conducted for another voyage in the near future.