China said on Friday it will transmit 30 pieces of Chinese music
to the Earth next year aboard its first lunar-probing
satellite.
The Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National
Defense, which is in charge of the lunar-probing project, said it
began to seek recommendations from the general public for the music
to be played in space.
China is expected to launch its first lunar-probing project next
year, according to the the commission.
The State Council approved the country's first lunar probe
program in 2004. The satellite program, which has a budget of 1.4
billion yuan (about US$170 million), is part of the country's
three-stage lunar project.
The lunar satellite was designed to obtain three-dimensional
images of the lunar surface, analyze the content of useful elements
and materials, and probe the depth of the lunar soil and the space
environment between the earth and the moon.
The satellite system consists of a satellite platform and
payload, which will be based on China's Dongfanghong 3 satellite
systems and other mature satellite technology, the commission
said.
The satellite will be 2,350 kg in weight with 130 kg of
payload,and will orbit the moon for one year.
?
(Xinhua News Agency July 7, 2006)
