China test orbiter preparing for return to Earth  

嫦娥五号试验器进月地转移轨道 获清晰地月合照

China's return lunar orbiter, a precursor to the Chang'e-5 mission, has escaped lunar gravity and is approaching the Earth after 114 hours of flight in space.

As of 8:00 pm Tuesday, the unmanned spacecraft was flying in a good condition at a height of 360,000 kilometers and is expected to return to the Earth on November 1, said the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.

It was launched early Friday to test technology to be used in the Chang'e-5 mission, a probe that will conduct China's first moon mission and return to Earth.