Goals: The Chang'e 1 orbiter is the first of a planned series of Chinese missions to the Moon. The primary technical objectives of the mission are to develop and launch China's first lunar orbiter, validate the technology necessary to fly lunar missions, build a basic engineering system for lunar exploration, start scientific exploration of the Moon, and gain experience for subsequent missions.
Accomplishments: Chang'e 1 arrived in lunar orbit as planned and returned images of the lunar surface. The technology test was successful and opened the door to future Chinese Moon missions.
Chang'e comes from a Chinese legend about a young goddess (right) who flies to the Moon.
