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 commander and designer in charge of the satellite system, described it as "a landmark moment". "It proves that we have the ability to send our satellite to circle around the moon."

China sent its first satellite into the Earth orbit in 1970, and has recorded many breakthroughs in its space program in recent years.

"The probe is expected to send back the first batch of data and activate all its scientific instruments later this month," CNSA spokesman Li Guoping told a press conference yesterday.

"After entering the working orbit, the probe will further adjust its orbit and start testing its instruments. And the ground system will process data into the first three-dimensional moon picture later this month," Li said.

"The probe will be tested by the severe lunar environment but scientists have worked out a series of measures to ensure smooth progress," Li said.

(Xinhua News Agency November 8, 2007)