BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- China's first lunar probe, Chang'e-1, has successfully captured pictures of the moon's polar areas, Chinese officials said on Thursday.

    The Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense released on Thursday a picture of the moon's polar areas, the first-ever such picture taken by Chinese.

    "We have obtained good quality pictures," said spokesman Pei Zhaoyu of China National Space Administration (CNSA).

    Scientists tuned the camera aboard the satellite on Jan. 4 so that it could start taking photos of the moon areas above 70 degrees north or south latitude, Pei said.

    The camera was previously positioned to take photos of moon areas below 70 degrees north or south latitude, according to Pei.

    He also said all facilities on Chang'e-1 were functioning well and lunar probing missions would continue as planned.

    The satellite has been carrying out explorations for nearly three months since it entered its working orbit at an altitude of 200 kilometers above the moon's surface on Nov. 7.

    The probe adjusted its orbit by nearly two kilometers away from the moon's surface on Sunday night to avoid a power shortage during a moon eclipse on Feb. 21.

    The orbital adjustment was expected to shorten the time period when the satellite was cut off from sunlight for power supply from3.5 hours to two hours.

    The satellite will perform an orbital adjustment again when another eclipse occurs in August.

    The country published the first picture of the moon captured by the satellite on Nov. 26.

    Making a three-dimensional survey of the moon's surface has been one of the planned goals of the 2,350-kilogram satellite with eight probing facilities aboard.

    It will also analyze the abundance and distribution of elements on the lunar surface, investigate the characteristics of lunar regolith and the powdery soil layers, and explore conditions between the earth and the moon.

    The launch of the orbiter kicks off the first step of China's three-stage moon mission, which will lead to a moon landing and launch of a rover vehicle around 2012.

    In the third phase, another rover will land on the moon and return to Earth with lunar soil and stone samples for scientific research at around 2017.

China marks 1st moon probe project

Chinese President Hu Jintao addresses a grand ceremony celebrating the success of the first stage of China's lunar probe project, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 12, 2007. China on Wednesday held the grand ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to celebrate the success of the first-phase lunar probe project. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao said on Wednesday that China would adhere to the principle of peaceful development and use of outer space in concerted efforts with other nations.

    Hu made the remarks at a grand ceremony held Wednesday morning at the Great Hall of the People to celebrate the first-phase lunar probe project's success.  

This undated photo shows a ray crater on the moon issued by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) on Dec. 11, 2007. The charge-coupled device (CCD) camera on Chang'e-1, China's first lunar orbiter, has started imaging probes on the dark side of the moon and captured photos of parts of this region, CNSA announced Tuesday.  (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Chang'e-1 photographs dark side of the moon

    BEIJING, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- The charge-coupled device (CCD) camera on Chang'e-1, China's first lunar orbiter, has started imaging probes on the dark side of the moon and captured photos of parts of this region, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced Tuesday.

This file photo released by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) on Nov. 26, 2007 shows China's first picture of the moon captured by Chang'e-1, China's first lunar orbiter, marking the full success of its lunar probe project. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

China publishes first moon picture

    BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- China published the first picture of the moon captured by Chang'e-1 on Monday morning, marking the success of the country's first lunar probe project.

Chang'e-1 completes long journey to moon successfully

    BEIJING, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- China's first lunar probe, Chang'e-1, completed its nearly two-million-km journey to the moon successfully on Wednesday morning and entered its working orbit.

The circumlunar satellite Chang'e-1 blasted off on a Long March3A carrier rocket at 6:05 p.m., Oct.24 from the No. 3 launching tower in the Xichang Satellite Launch Center of southwestern Sichuan Province.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

China's first lunar probe Chang'e-1 blasts off

    XICHANG, Sichuan, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- China launched its first lunar probe on Wednesday, the first step into its ambitious three-stage moon mission, marking a new milestone in the country's space exploration history.