Thousands to be evacuated for lunar probe launch

China's second lunar probe, the Chang'e-2, is set to blast off from Xichang, on or around National Day. As a safety precaution, more than 2,000 residents within 2.5 kilometers of the launch pad will be evacuated hours before lift-off, media reports said.

Moon surface map unveiled

China published the country's first full map of the moon surface on Wednesday, about a year after its first lunar probe -- Chang'e I -- was launched.

Scientists make breakthroughs for lunar rover

Shanghai scientists have made two key breakthroughs with homegrown technology in developing an unmanned lunar rover to probe the lunar surface and environment.

The dark side of the moon

A picuture of the dark side of the moon, taken by China's lunar orbiter Chang'e I, is released by the China National Space Administration on December 11, 2007. [cnsa.gov.cn]

Data from Chinese lunar orbiter available to all

Scientists and astronomy enthusiasts all over the country all have access to data sent back from China's first lunar orbiter Chang'e-I, a leading scientist in the program said on Sunday.

China publishes first moon picture taken by chang'e I

China publishes its first picture of the moon captured by Chang'e I, the country's first lunar probe, on Monday.

Lunar orbiter blasts off in Xichang

China's first lunar orbiter, Chang'e I, blasts off in the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, at 6:05 pm October 24, 2007. [Xinhua]

Beijing Space Command and Control Center

Moon orbiter ignites people’s interest in astronomy

A woman looks through a space telescope to get a clearer image of the moon at Hebei Science &Technology Square in North China's Hebei Province, October 23, 2007. China is expected to launch its first moon orbiter Chang'e I on October 24, 2007, which has sparked the nation's huge interest in astronomy.

Chang'e I lunar probe

The graphics shows the internal structure of the moon.