By Katie Hunt, CNN <\/p>\n
updated 10:42 PM EDT, Thu October 23, 2014 <\/p>\n
STORY HIGHLIGHTS <\/p>\n
Hong Kong (CNN) -- Up, up and away. Way away -- to the moon, in fact. <\/p>\n
China launched an experimental spacecraft early Friday that is scheduled to orbit the moon before returning to Earth, a first for the country's ambitious space program and considered a precursor to a planned mission to the moon. <\/p>\n
The unmanned spacecraft was launched by a Long March 3C rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan, western China, state media said. <\/p>\n
It is China's first lunar module capable of returning to Earth and the mission's main technical challenge will be making sure the spacecraft slows down enough to re-enter Earth's atmosphere safely. <\/p>\n
China's space accomplishments <\/p>\n
China's space accomplishments <\/p>\n
China's space accomplishments <\/p>\n
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View original post here: <\/p>\n
Giant leap for China space program<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Katie Hunt, CNN updated 10:42 PM EDT, Thu October 23, 2014 STORY HIGHLIGHTS Hong Kong (CNN) -- Up, up and away. Continue reading