The service module of China's unmanned lunar orbiter has entered a 127-minute orbit at an altitude of 200 kilometers above the moon.

Scientists are hoping the orbiter can take photographs of the terrain of the areas on the moon where Chang'e 5 will land.

Yang Mengfei, chief commander and chief engineer with the lunar exploration program.

"We will further detect the environment of the orbit by collecting more data about light, temperature, and mechanical property in order to prepare for Chang'e 5."

It is a test run for the final chapter of China's three-step lunar program -- orbiting, landing and returning.

And it is the first time that a Chinese space vehicle entered lunar orbit from a gravitationally neutral spot between the Earth and the moon.