China plans lunar probe launch in 2nd half 2007

BEIJING, May 20 (Reuters) China plans to launch a lunar probe in the second half of 2007, Xinhua news agency quoted the director of the National Space Administration as saying.

If the Chang'e 1 orbiter succeeds in orbiting the moon, it would attempt to land and collect samples before returning to earth, Sun Laiyan said in a speech at Beijing Communications University.

Plans for a lunar orbiter launch in 2007 were included in China's white paper on its space programme, unveiled last year.

In 2003, China became only the third country -- after the United States and the former Soviet Union -- to launch a man into space aboard its own rocket. In October 2005, it sent two men into orbit and plans a space walk by 2008.

China will continue manned space missions, Sun said.

China's space capability aroused international concern in January when it destroyed one of its ageing satellites by launching a missile from earth.

China will develop 12 Beidou or North Dipper satellites, some destined for geostationary orbit. It plans a navigation and positioning system of more than 30 satellites, Sun said.

It would also develop a generation of launch vehicles that were less polluting and costly, but delivered higher performance and greater thrust, he said.

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