China's plans to launch its first lunar orbiter, named "Chang'e
1" - after a female character from Chinese mythology who lived on
the moon - in 2007 are on schedule.
The moon orbiting project, the first step in China's overall
lunar exploration program that began in 2004, is proceeding
smoothly, according to Ouyang Ziyuan, chief scientist of the moon
probe program and an academician with the Chinese Academy of
Sciences.
The orbiter will provide 3D images of the moon's surface, probe
into the distribution of 14 usable elements on the moon, study
lunar microwaves and estimate the thickness of the moon's soil on
the whole moon. The craft will also monitor the space environment
between the moon and the earth, said Ouyang.
China's moon exploration program will be carried out in three
stages. The orbiting project will be followed by a
remote-controlled lunar rover that will perform experiments and
send data back to Earth. In the third phase, a module will drill
out a chunk of the moon and bring it to Earth.
All three will be completed by 2017, when China will begin to
consider a manned lunar probe mission.
(Xinhua News Agency June 20, 2006)
