China's Mars probe sends back photo of Earth, Moon

Tianwen-1, China's first ever Mars(火星 Huǒxīng) mission launched on July 23, has captured(捕捉 bǔzhuō) a photo of the Earth(地球 Dìqiú) and the Moon(月亮 Yuèliàng), according to China National Space Agency (CNSA) on Tuesday.

Using the optical navigation sensor, the probe took the image of the Earth and the Moon at a distance of 1.2 million kilometers away on Monday, under the operation by the flight control team from the Beijing Aerospace Command and Control Center in close collaboration with China Academy of Space Technology.

The image of the Earth (L) and the Moon taken by China's first Mars probe. [Photo: CNSA]

The black-and-white image shows the Earth and the Moon both in crescent-like shape(形状 xíngzhuàng) accompanying each other in the vast universe(宇宙 yǔzhòu).

The probe has escaped the Earth's gravitational influence(影响 yǐngxiǎng) and entered an interplanetary transfer orbit(轨道 guǐdào), flying more than 1.5 million kilometers away from the planet.

The Mars probe is currently in good flight condition, with normal energy balance and working conditions, said the CNSA, adding that ground measurement, control and tracking are stable(稳定的 wěndìng de), and flight control and data reception carried out in order.

Key word 重点词汇:

捕捉<动词 v.>

Catch

Nǐ bǔzhuō dào yúle ma?

你捕捉到鱼了吗？

Did you catch any fish?

Grasp; seize

Zhè zhāng zhàopiàn bǔzhuō dàole yīng'ér de wéixiào.

这张照片捕捉到了婴儿的微笑。

This photo caught a baby's smile.