Chang'e I ends lunar mission with a bang

China's lunar probe ended its 16-month mission with a controlled crash onto the moon yesterday, officials said.

Chang'e I hit the moon surface at 4:13 pm Beijing time yesterday after completing its tasks, sources with the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense said.

Chang'e I began to reduce its speed at 3:36 pm with two observation and control stations in Qingdao and Kashgar controlling it remotely.