China's first lunar probe launch was successful, a Chinese
official announced Wednesday evening at the Xichang Satellite
Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province.
Li Shangfu, director of the Xichang launch center made the
announcement after the orbitor succussfully entered the earth orbit
and unfolded its solar panel.
The launch of the lunar probe "marks another milestone in
China's aerospace program following the launch of man-made
satellite and manned space missions", Chinese vice-premier Zeng
Peiyan said at the Xichang launch center.
The circumlunar satellite Chang'e-1 blasted off on a Long March
3A carrier rocket at 6:05 p.m. from the No. 3 launching tower in
the Xichang Satellite Launch Center of southwestern Sichuan
Province.
The 2,300-kg satellite will experience four accelerations and is
expected to enter earth-moon transfer orbit on October 31 and
arrive in the moon's orbit on November 5.
(Xinhua News Agency October 24, 2007)