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Important events in China's space programme

by Staff Writers
Beijing (AFP) Oct 24, 2007
China on Wednesday launched the Chang'e I, its first-ever lunar orbiter, as part of its quest to put a man on the moon by around 2020.

The following are the key events in China's space programme:

-- 1956: China opens up its first institute on missile and rocket research.

-- 1970: China launches its first satellite, the "East is Red I," aboard a Long March carrier rocket.

-- 1975: China launches its first recoverable satellite, which returns to Earth after a three-day flight.

-- 1985: China announces it will offer commercial satellite launch services for international clients.

-- Early 1990s: China suffers a series of launch failures in its commercial satellite endeavours.

-- 1992: China begins its Shenzhou programme aimed at sending a man into space.

-- 1999: China launches the first flight in the Shenzhou series, an unmanned mission.

-- 2003: Yang Liwei becomes China's first man in space on the Shenzhou V mission. He returns after 21 hours and 14 trips around the Earth.

-- 2004: China launches 10 satellites in eight successful rocket launches, the most-ever in one year.

-- 2005: The Shenzhou VI carries two men into space in the nation's second manned flight. They spend five days on their 3.25-million-kilometre (two-million-mile) mission in orbit.

-- June 2007: China launches the 100th flight of its Long March series of rockets as it remains a major player in the area of global satellite launch services.

-- Oct 24, 2007: China launches the Chang'e I, the first mission in its lunar programme.

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Factbox on China's lunar programme
Beijing (AFP) Oct 24, 2007
China on Wednesday launched the Chang'e I satellite, the nation's first lunar orbiter, which will photograph and map the moon's surface.







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