Mission Summary
Chang’e 1 was China’s first mission to the Moon and the beginning of the country’s lunar exploration program. Launched on October 24, 2007, the spacecraft marked China’s entry into deep-space exploration and successfully reached lunar orbit after a journey of nearly two weeks.
For more than a year, Chang’e 1 studied the Moon from orbit, creating a complete three-dimensional map of the lunar surface and collecting information about its composition. Its instruments measured elements in lunar rocks, studied the thickness of the lunar soil, and investigated the space environment around the Moon.
The mission provided China with valuable experience in spacecraft tracking, navigation, and operations beyond Earth orbit. On March 1, 2009, Chang’e 1 completed its mission with a planned impact on the lunar surface. Its success established the foundation for later Chinese missions that would orbit, land on, collect samples from, and explore the Moon.
Sources and notes can be found on the Sources page.
