China May Launch First Lunar Probe Satellite In September

MOON DAILY

Illustration only.

by Staff Writers
Beijing (Xinhua) Mar 19, 2007
China may launch its first lunar satellite in September this year, the official People's Daily said in its overseas edition Saturday, quoting head of the country's Commission of Science Technology and Industry for National Defense. "Preparatory work for the Chang'e I lunar orbiter is going according to schedule, and the orbiter may be launched in September this year," said Zhang Yunchuan, the commission's director.

The orbiter will provide 3D images of the moon's surface, analyze the distribution of 14 usable elements on the moon, study lunar microwaves and estimate the thickness of the moon's soil, according to Zhang.

The launch of the orbiter is the first phase of China's moon exploration program. The second phase will involves the launching of a rover to the moon at around 2012, Zhang said.

In the third phase, another rover will land on the moon and return to earth with lunar soil and stone samples, he said.

Source: Xinhua News Agency

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MOON DAILY

China Bans Firm From Selling Land On The Moon

Beijing (AFP) March 17, 2007
A Chinese company has been banned from selling plots of land on the moon, state media reported on Saturday. The company, Lunar Embassy to China, had sold a total of 49 acres (20 hectares) to 34 customers before authorities acted, Xinhua news agency said. An appeal court on Friday upheld an earlier ruling against the Beijing-based firm which had been selling the lunar plots.

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