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Chang’e-1 opens new era

BEIJING: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in an inspiring speech on Monday that China has joined the select group of world powers with the capabilities to engage in deep-space exploration.

After unveiling the first picture of the moon surface taken by Chang’e-1, China’s first lunar probe, Mr. Wen said that the dream of the Chinese people for more than 1,000 years of flying to the moon had begun to materialise.

Mr. Wen said that the lunar probe was the third milestone in China’s space exploration following the successes of man-made satellites and manned space flights.

The success, he said, not only manifested China’s rising national strength and technical innovation capability, but also elevated the country’s international status and cemented national cohesion.

“It showcases eloquently that the Chinese people have the will, the ambition and the capability to compose more shining new chapters while ascending the science and technology summit,” he said.

Citing a letter from an overseas Chinese, Mr. Wen said that the farther the China-made satellite flew, the higher would the overseas Chinese hold their heads.

Looking to the future of China’s three-step moon exploration which will lead to a moon landing and the launch of a moon rover around 2012 and the taking-back of lunar soil and stone samples, Mr. Wen said. — Xinhua

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