Special report: China launches first lunar orbiter

    XICHANG, Sichuan, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Chang'e-1 moon orbiter has entered into a 16-hour orbit at 205 km perigee and 50,930 km apogee, statistics from the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC) shows.

    The 2,300-kg satellite will experience four accelerations and is expected to enter earth-moon transfer orbit on Oct. 31 and arrive in the moon's orbit on Nov. 5.

    The circumlunar satellite blasted off on a Long March 3A carrier rocket at 6:05 p.m. from the No. 3 launching tower in the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwestern Sichuan Province.