BEIJING, March 26 (UPI) -- China will launch its first lunar satellite as a fly-by mission in 2007, scientists and officials said.
"As a space faring nation, it is time for China to initiate outer space probing centering on moon exploration now that we've launched man-made satellites and made breakthroughs in manned space flight," said Luan Enjie, director of China National Space Administration.
Luan is also chief commander of China's lunar orbiting program called the Chang'e project. The first lunar orbiter is named "Chang'e-I," referring to an ancient Chinese legend about the fairy Chang'e who flies to the moon, the China Daily reported.
Another space program official, Sun Laiyan said, "The achievements of China's first lunar exploration will surely provide useful new information for humanity's moon research and resources investigation."
After the fly-by project, China will proceed to soft land an unmanned vehicle on the moon.
