China has made key technical breakthrough in its first moon
exploration satellite program which was launched in March this
year, Xinhua News Agency reported Sunday.
Ye Peijian from the China Academy for Space Technology who heads
the research work reportedly said scientists had made advances in
the design of the satellite's orbit, antenna, power supply,
structure and temperature control.
Scientists have worked out the coordinates and route for the
satellite's journey. They can also monitor and control its progress
via a specially designed antenna, which transmits data back to
earth.
The academy will support the program to make sure the satellite
can be launched as soon as possible, its president Yuan Jiajun
said.
China's moon exploration program is called "Project Chang'e'' by
scientists, according to the China Central Television (CCTV).
According to an ancient Chinese myth, Chang'e was a beautiful
woman who took a special potent that gave her the ability to fly.
She flew to the moon and stayed there forever.
The first phase of the program is to launch an exploration
satellite to the moon, which will orbit it and examine its surface
and geography.
The second phase is to launch a device to land on the moon and
the third is to send a robot to the moon.
Experts predict it will take 20 years to complete the whole
program.
According to CCTV, a scientific research team for moon
exploration has been set up under the China National Space
Administration.
The team includes experts from many space research organizations
such as the Chinese
Academy of Sciences.
(China Daily August 4, 2003)