Chang-e-1 Satellite News

China on Friday celebrated 61 years of communist rule with the launch of its second lunar probe -- the next step in its ambitious programme to become the second country to put a man on the moon.A Long March 3C rocket carrying the Chang'e-2, which is due to go into orbit within 15 kilometres (nine miles) of the moon, blasted off from the launch centre in Xichang in the southwestern province of Sichuan, state media said.China Central Television briefly showed images of the rocket blasting off...Read Full Story

China's second lunar probe entered the moon's orbit on Saturday, eight days after the Long March 3C rocket carrying the Chang'e-2 blasted off from the launch centre, state media reported.The unmanned probe will start "scientific exploration activities soon," said the official Xinhua news agency, citing the Beijing Aerospace Control Center.The Chang'e-2 will first circle the moon at a distance of 100 kilometres (62 miles). The plan is for it to drop into orbit 15 kilometres from the moon's...Read Full Story

Chinese space officials announced that their Chang'e-1 spacecraft entered lunar orbit on Monday, completing a new milestone in the country's goals of space exploration. The spacecraft is scheduled to begin scanning the lunar surface on Wednesday, but first, it has to complete two additional braking maneuvers.Mission controllers gave the command at 11:15 local time from the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC) for Chang'e-1 to make its braking maneuver - when it was 300 km from the Moon. It...Read Full Story

Four days ago, the first lunar pictures taken by China's Chang'e 1 lunar orbiter were released, weeks after Kaguya's HD camera took photos. So compare the two here:Chang'e 1Vs.KaguyaWhile Kaguya is undoubtedly prettier, both missions, hot-on-the heels of each other, are part of a plan laid out by The Planetary Society called the Lunar Decade. Each of these missions, and India's planned mission, Chandrayaan 1, play an integral part in the plan.Read Full Story

Wikizines are interactive magazines that anyone can create or edit - and this one is called "Chang-e-1 Satellite News". Here you can find fresh voices and respond in real time. Some members write articles about recent news and trends related to the wikizine's topic, others recount relevant personal stories or share their favorite pictures and video clips. Got an interesting idea or story to share with other members of this wikizine? Well, then put on your journalist's cap and add your own...Read Full Story