The launch of China's first lunar orbiter, Chang'e I, is scheduled to take place next Wednesday at 6:05 pm, Beijing Evening News reported yesterday.
The newspaper quoted experts, without naming them, as saying possible thunderstorms, rain, cloud cover and historical records were factored into the decision.
At present, the orbiter and rocket carrier, a Long March 3-A, are on the 85-m-high third launching tower at Xichang Satellite Launching Center, Sichuan Province, Southwest China.
Both the second and third launching towers in Xichang are able to launch Chang'e I. The third launching tower is thought to be one of the world's most advanced.
Chang'e I is expected to provide 3D images of the moon's surface, 380,000 km away from Earth; determine the distribution of 14 usable elements on the moon; study lunar radiation and estimate the thickness of the moon's crust.
Starting in January 2004, the moon exploration project is regarded as the third milestone in China's exploration of space, after successful satellite and manned spacecraft flights.
It is also planned to launch a moon rover in the second phase, and another rover in the third phase. The rovers are intended to land on the moon and return to Earth with lunar soil and stone samples.
China aims to land a man on the Moon within 15 years.
Source:China Daily
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