 | A Long March 3A rocket carrying the Chang'e One lunar orbiter blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan province, October 24, 2007. click to open  |
 | A Chinese man reads a newspaper with an article featuring China's lunar orbiter launch, in Beijing, Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007. Embarking on an ambitious 10-year moon exploration program, China launched its first lunar probe on Wednesday, a leap forward in the Asian space race that gave a boost to national pride, and the promise of scientific and military payoffs click to open |
 | Spectators watch a Long March 3A rocket carrying the Chang'e One lunar orbiter blasting off, near the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, in southwestern Sichuan province October 24, 2007. 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. click to open |
 | A Long March 3A rocket carrying the Chang'e One lunar orbiter blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in southwest China's Sichuan province October 24, 2007. click to open |
 | Spectators celebrate after a Long March 3A rocket carrying the Chang'e One lunar orbiter blasts off, near the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, in southwestern Sichuan province October 24, 2007. 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, Xinhua News Agency reported. The banner reads 'Celebrate lunar orbiter Chang'e One's blast off'. click to open |
 | A Long March 3A rocket carrying the Chang'e One lunar orbiter blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in southwest China's Sichuan province October 24, 2007. click to open |
 | A Long March 3A rocket carrying the Chang'e One lunar orbiter blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in southwest China's Sichuan province October 24, 2007. click to open |
 | The Long March 3A rocket and a lunar orbiter, the Chang'e One, sit on the launch pad at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, in southwest China's Sichuan province, October 24, 2007. The launch of the nation's first lunar orbiter is scheduled to take place at 6:05 p.m. Beijing time on Wednesday. click to open |
 | A Long March 3A rocket carrying the Chang'e One lunar orbiter blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in southwest China's Sichuan province October 24, 2007. click to open |
 | A graphic on China's first lunar orbit mission. Asia's space race heated up on Wednesday as China launched its first lunar orbiter, an event hailed by the world's most populous nation as a milestone event in its global rise. click to open |
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