The orbiter Chang'e I, which is China's first lunar probe satellite with a weight of 2.35 tons, blasted off on a Long March 3A carrier rocket at 6:05 p.m. yesterday. This means the initial success of China's lunar probe project and marks a giant step taken by the Chinese nation in deep-space exploration.

　　Guo Boxiong, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, Zeng Peiyan, vice premier of the State Council and Cao Gangchuan, state councilor and Minister of Defense, watched the launch at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. Zeng Peiyan, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission, extended warm congratulations and cordial greetings to all the scientific and technical personnel, workers and the PLA officers and men. He urged them to go all out to fulfill various post-launch tasks of lunar probe project, organize major scientific and technological project meticulously so as to promote better and faster development of China's aerospace program and science and technology for national defense.

　　By Zhao Bo

　　(Oct 25, PLA Daily)