A senior scientist said the ongoing lunar probe program reflected the great adventurous spirit of humanity, and that the Chinese nation should have such a spirit.

China's space exploration, like that of other countries, belongs to humanity, and such exploration is an obligation and responsibility China should take, according to Luan Enjie, chief commander of China's lunar orbiter project.

Luan said China's lunar probe project was not an attempt to emulate others, but rather an inevitable reflection of China's improved overall strength.

China has developed an ability to launch an exploration satellite to the moon and a capability of stepping into deep space, Luan said.

"That was the reason China is implementing its lunar probe program," he emphasized.
The lunar orbiter project is a natural result of China's social and economic development, Luan said.

"Carrying out moon exploration is of significance for further making use of outer space in a peaceful way, and for enhancing China's overall national strength," Luan said.

He said the project will not only boost the further development of China's space industry, but also drive the development of science and technology at large.

As a result of the project, China will start studying space chemistry, space biology, space environment studies and space astronomy.

"After more than three years of efforts, we have already made noticeable progress in such technologies as remote sensing and microwave sounding," he said.

Luan added that the lunar orbiter project was cost effective with a total investment of about 1.4 billion yuan (US$186.8 million).

The money is equivalent to the cost of building 14 kilometers of expressway or two to three kilometers of subway, according to Luan.

He said the workforce for the project was more than 6,000 people, who came from 200-plus institutions and enterprises.

The cost-effectiveness was based on efforts to make full use of sophisticated technologies and of existing equipment, he noted.

Luan said China had implemented the project independently, and all of the equipment and instruments on the satellite were built by the Chinese themselves.