9 erring body care centers shut in Riyadh    20,000 military emblems confiscated in Riyadh    Al-Samaani visits headquarters of Hague Conference on Private International Law    Al-Jasser: Saudi Arabia to expand rail network to over 8,000 km    OMODA&JAECOO: Unstoppable global cumulative sales over 360,000 units    Saudi Arabia sees 73.7% rise in investment licenses in Q3 2024    International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant for Israeli prime minister    Al Hilal doesn't need extra support to bring new players, CEO says    Fate of Gaetz ethics report uncertain after congressional panel deadlocked    Russia and US battle for advantage in Ukraine war ahead of Trump's return    Indian students in the US outnumber Chinese for the first time in 15 years    US vetoes UN resolution on Gaza ceasefire, saying it doesn't guarantee release of hostages    Indian billionaire Gautam Adani indicted in New York on fraud charges    Rafael Nadal: Farewell to the 'King of Clay'    Indonesia shocks Saudi Arabia with 2-0 victory in AFC Asian Qualifiers    Sitting too much linked to heart disease –– even if you work out    Yemeni Orchestra's captivating performances in Riyadh, showcasing shared cultural legacies    Future of Ronaldo's Al Nassr contract remains undecided, says Saudi Pro League CEO    GASTAT report: 45.1% of Saudis are overweight    Denmark's Victoria Kjær Theilvig wins Miss Universe 2024    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



China to launch moon probe next week
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 16 - 10 - 2007

China plans to launch its Chang'e-I moon probe next week after weeks of preparation on the launch pad near the south-western city of Xichang, state media said Tuesday.
A Long March-3 carrier rocket is already in place to launch the
probe from the Xichang space centre in Sichuan province at 6:05 pm (1005 GMT) on October 24, the Beijing Evening News reported.
But the Shanghai Morning Post reported that the launch date was only narrowed down to between Monday and October 25.
A tour company in the Sichuan capital, Chengdu, has been offering 2,000 tickets for Chinese nationals to see the launch of the
satellite, other state media said last week.
The launch of Chang'e-I will mark a key stage in China's ambitious long-term space programme, which includes plans to assemble a permanent space laboratory by 2020.
It plans to follow the probe with a lunar lander in 2012 and a
third satellite designed to reach the moon and bring back mineral
samples in 2017, space officials said last year.
China's 2003 manned mission made it the third country to launch an astronaut into space after Russia and the United States.
It released plans in 2000 for an ambitious 20-year programme to
build an "integrated ground-space network" for space exploration and manned space research, including space stations.
It said it hopes to send exploration vehicles to the moon and Mars as part of its long-term plan for developing its commercial space industry.
China caused international concern by testing an anti-satellite
missile in January but said it remained committed to the "peaceful
use of outer space."
Japan successfully launched a similar probe into orbit around the mooon about two weeks ago, news agency DPA reported.


Clic here to read the story from its source.