Special report: China launches first lunar orbiter

    BEIJING, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC) transmitted data to Chang'e-1 at 9:45 a.m. on Monday, which will make the country's first lunar probe adjust its flying posture before braking at perilune to enter the moon's orbit.

    Chang'e-1 will carry out the braking at about 11:00 a.m. Monday to slow down, so that it can be captured by the lunar gravity and become a circumlunar satellite, said Wang Yejun, chief engineer of BACC.

    China's first lunar probe, Chang'e-1, named after a legendary Chinese goddess who flew to the moon, blasted off on a Long March 3A carrier rocket on Oct. 24 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwestern Sichuan Province.