Expert: Safe journey, successful data-transmitting ensured

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Source: CCTV.com | 10-24-2007 13:30

As world attention focuses on the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, in southwestern China's Sichuan province, the Beijing Aerospace Command and Control Center is considered the brain of Chang'E One. It will control the satellite, 400 seconds after it takes off.

Chang'E one will relay the first picture of the moon in late November. It will then continue scientific exploration for a year. During that time, data from the orbiter will be transmitted to the headquarters.

Zhu Mincai, Director of the Center, says all preparations are complete for China's first lunar probe.

But he says it was not a easy job as scientists had to overcome a series of problems they had never encountered.

Zhu Mincai said, "First of all, since Chang'E One is a lunar orbiter, we've never monitored a satellite that can travel as far as Chang'E One does. The problem was whether our monitoring equipment and the lunar orbiter could transmit data from some 380,000 kilometers. The exploration is not simply about how many times the satellite will travel around the Moon. The difficult part for us is how to make it free from the pull of gravity and arrive in the moon's orbit."

The orbiter will carry out a series of projects including acquiring 3-D images and analyzing the distribution of elements on the moon's surface.

The director says that after conducting examinations and tests the center could now ensure a safe journey and successful data-transmitting.

Editor:Zhang Ning