The country's first lunar orbiter entered the moon's "working orbit" after completing its third and final braking at 8:34 AM yesterday, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced.

"It marks the success of the probe's long flight to the moon," said Luan Enjie, chief commander of the lunar probe project.

Chang'e I, launched from the Xichang Launch Center in Sichuan Province on October 24, will start probing the moon late this month after all instruments aboard become operational.

TV footage showed staff at the ground control center hailing the success with colored posters featuring a black headline "Circling the Moon, We Made It!".

Luan and Sun Jiadong, chief designer of the project, were all smiles.

"The satellite entered the designed working orbit just in time and very accurately," said Sun, who has worked with Luan for more than a decade to develop, test and carry out the lunar probe project.

Ye Peijian, chief comm...

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