我国首颗月球探测卫星“嫦娥一号”初步确定于10月24日下午发射升空。据专家透露，经过对发射地雷电、降水和云量等因素的详细分析，结合相关历史资料判断，并在航天、卫星发射、气象、天文等多个部门反复协商下，最终确定了最佳发射窗口为10月24日下午6时05分左右。目前，西昌卫星发射中心的准备工作也在紧张而有序地进行着。

Researchers and technicians are making final preparations for the launch of China's first moon orbiter, Chang'e I, at the end of October.[cnsphoto]

专题推荐：词解十七大

A senior Chinese official said Tuesday that researchers and technicians are making final preparations for the launch of the country's first moon orbiter, Chang'e I, at the end of October.

Zhang Qingwei, minister in charge of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (COSTIND), who is attending the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said in an interview with Xinhua.

Zhang said his team has nearly finished pre-launch tests on the rocket and orbiter, which have been transported to the launch site.

Advanced cameras and X-ray spectrometers have been installed in the orbiter for mapping three-dimensional images of the lunar surface, analyzing dust on the moon, and studying the space environment between the Earth and the moon.

"The appropriate time for the launch is in April and October. We finally choose October with the consideration of weather and celestial conditions," he said.

"China's moon exploration project is for peaceful use of space," Zhang said. "We're now equipped with high technologies in doing our own research."

The next step in the ambitious mission is to launch a moon vehicle, and then get it back, Zhang said.

Sending the first astronaut into space with the Chinese-made spaceship Shenzhou V in 2003, China became the third country to carry out manned space mission.

The Chinese government has included the moon adventure in 16 key state science projects by the year 2020.

（Xinhua）

Vocabulary:

spectrometer: 光谱仪

celestial：天空的

manned space mission：载人航天计划

（英语点津 Celene 编辑）