China plans Wednesday launch for moon orbiter
104750
China's preparations to launch its  first lunar orbiter are on schedule for lift-off later this  week, a Chinese official said on Monday, as the country steps  up efforts in a new international race for the moon.
355802
A space probe using ``revolutionary&#39;&#39; ion engine technology today will make its closest pass yet to the Moon as scientists maneuver it into an orbit from where it will study the Earth&#39;s satellite, the European Space Agency said.
708922
By ELAINE KURTENBACH    SHANGHAI, China  -- Chinese astronauts are in the final stages of preparing for a manned space mission that will orbit the globe 14 times before returning to Earth, a state-run newspaper reported Thursday.    The launch, expected sometime this month, will initially send a manned craft, the Shenzhou 5, into an oval orbit that at its closest will be 125 miles from Earth, the Liberation Daily reported, citing "relevant channels."    After circling the earth several times, the ship will enter an orbit at about 220 miles from earth, the report said...
375353
China&#39;s second manned space mission would take place in September 2005, the Beijing News quoted a high-ranking space official as saying Thursday.
324361
BEIJING, Oct. 24 -- China sent a satellite rocketing toward lunar orbit Wednesday evening, the latest step in an ambitious national program to shoot more astronauts into space, build a space station and eventually land Chinese astronauts on the moon.
528198
China launched a new communications satellite into orbit early Friday to provide broader radio and television signal coverage across the country, state media reported.
576856
China&#39;s second manned space flight will be conducted by two astronauts over five days in 2005. &quot;Shenzhou-VI will be blasted into space sometime next year,&quot; said Zuo Saichun, a
225598
Musical lunarcy China has celebrated today's Moon Festival by releasing a list of ditties to be broadcast back to Earth from its Moon-probing satellite due for launch in 2007, Reuters reports.â¦
502679
China's burgeoning space program has announced plans to launch its first astronomy satellite and participate in joint projects with Russia and France, state media reported Monday.
416342
China launched its first lunar probe Wednesday, an initial step in an ambitious 10-year plan to send a rover to the moon and return it to Earth.
55783
The European Space Agency (ESA) on Tuesday said it expected to carry out the maiden launch of a robot supply ship to the orbital space station between February 22 and March 8 or 9.
33553
British and U.S. scientists said Friday they were exploring plans for a joint lunar mission that would use an orbiter to fire missile-like penetrators into the moon's surface.
181543
China Sunday launched a satellite that will carry out land surveys and mapping for several days before returning to earth, the Xinhua news agency said.
548954
The European spacecraft, SMART-1, is set to establish a standard orbit around the moon on Monday evening after a thirteen month journey towards earth&#39;s satellite.
217763
China's second manned space flight will blast off next September with two astronauts circling the Earth for five days to reinforce the country's status as a major space power, state media said.
31693
XICHANG, China  - China launched its first moon orbiter on Wednesday amid a blaze of live-to-air patriotic propaganda celebrating the country's space ambitions and technological prowess.
763335
By ERIC TALMADGE TOKYO - All systems are finally go for Japan's first lunar orbiter, which is scheduled for launch on Aug. 16, officials announced Wednesday.