China Aims to Launch First Lunar Probe This Year – Xinhua

From Xinhua, via Chinese National News:

China was ‘losing no time’ in preparing its first lunar orbiter, Chang’e I, which will most likely be launched in the second half of 2007, a space official said here Sunday.

‘The moon probe project is the third milestone in China’s space technology after satellite and manned spacecraft projects, and a first step for us in exploring deep space,’ said Sun Laiyan, chief of the China National Space Administration. [Full text]