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| China set to launch lunar orbiter | China set to launch lunar orbiter |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| China is preparing to launch its first lunar orbiter, on a planned year-long exploration mission to the Moon. | |
| The satellite, named Chang'e 1, will be launched from the Xichang Centre in south-west China's Sichuan province. | The satellite, named Chang'e 1, will be launched from the Xichang Centre in south-west China's Sichuan province. |
| Officials have a three-day window for the launch. Their first choice is 1800 local time (1000 GMT) on Wednesday. | Officials have a three-day window for the launch. Their first choice is 1800 local time (1000 GMT) on Wednesday. |
| Earlier this month, a Japanese lunar probe successfully entered orbit around the Moon. India is also planning a lunar mission in April next year. | |
| Space race | Space race |
| The Chang'e 1, named after a Chinese goddess who flew to the Moon, will be launched by a Long March 3A rocket. | The Chang'e 1, named after a Chinese goddess who flew to the Moon, will be launched by a Long March 3A rocket. |
| Thousands of people living within 2.5km (1.6 miles) of the site and under the flight trajectory will be evacuated as standard procedure, officials at the Xichang Centre said. | Thousands of people living within 2.5km (1.6 miles) of the site and under the flight trajectory will be evacuated as standard procedure, officials at the Xichang Centre said. |
| Once launched, the satellite would be expected to enter lunar orbit in early November, and start sending back pictures of the Moon's surface later that month. | Once launched, the satellite would be expected to enter lunar orbit in early November, and start sending back pictures of the Moon's surface later that month. |
| It is expected to remain in orbit for a year. | It is expected to remain in orbit for a year. |
| Efforts by Asian nations to advance their space programmes have gathered pace in recent years. | Efforts by Asian nations to advance their space programmes have gathered pace in recent years. |
| In 2003, China became the first Asian nation to use its own rocket to put an astronaut in space. | In 2003, China became the first Asian nation to use its own rocket to put an astronaut in space. |
| Four years later, Beijing triggered international concern by destroying a weather satellite as part of a weapons test. | Four years later, Beijing triggered international concern by destroying a weather satellite as part of a weapons test. |