AI Guoxiang, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told reporters that China?痵 first moon expedition will begin with the launch of a moon probe satellite. The moon probe satellite will map the usable resources on the moon surface, with a range of other missions, including collecting 3-D moon images, understanding the soil, usable elements and mineral resources on the moon surface, and gaining more knowledge of the moon space environment. The moon probe satellite is designed to have a weight of 2,350 kg, with effective payloads including optic sounding system, and probing instruments to detect |? and X rays and space environment.

China officially kicked off its moon probe project last year. The project, named Chang?痚 Project, is implemented in three phases: surrounding the moon, landing on the moon, and returning from the moon. All the probe activities are unmanned. The moon surrounding satellite named Chang?痚 I expects to be launched before 2007.