Free Republic

China hopes to launch its second moon-orbiting satellite in 2009, state media reported Friday, as the country steps up its space programme. The news came after scientists regained contact with the country's first lunar satellite Chang'e-1 following a four-hour blackout, Xinhua news agency said. Ye Peijian, the chief commander of Chang'e-1, did not elaborate on his announcement of the follow-up mission. Change'e-1 is currently making a three-dimensional survey of the moon, and collecting data on the make-up of its surface, the report added. The control centre lost contact with the satellite for four hours on Thursday, as it moved into...

This file photo released by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) on Nov. 26, 2007 shows China's first picture of the moon captured by Chang'e-1, China's first lunar orbiter. (Xinhua Photo) BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- China published the first picture of the moon captured by Chang'e-1, the country's first lunar probe, on Monday, marking the full success of its lunar probe project. The white and black picture, in a glass frame, was unveiled by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center. It shows a rough moon surface scattered with big or small round pits. The area...