OTD in Space - December 13: Chinese Spacecraft Flies by Asteroid Toutatis

On Dec. 13, 2012, a Chinese spacecraft flew by the asteroid Toutatis. [‘On This Day in Space’ Video Series on Space.com]

Chang'e 2 launched in 2010 and was originally a lunar orbiter that China launched as part of a three-phase lunar exploration effort. The spacecraft's main mission was to scout for potential landing sites for China's first moon lander, the Chang'e-3. By April of 2012, it had finished its primary mission and took off toward the asteroid for an extended mission. It flew within 2 miles of the asteroid's surface and took some pretty sweet pictures of the strangely shaped space rock.