From the Xichang base in Sichuan province, the Chinese Long March 3A rocket, carrying the Chang’e 1 satellite, takes off headed for the Moon; this is the first step in Beijing’s space program which plans to land some astronauts (taikonauts) on the lunar surface by 2020; among the tasks of Chang’e 1 is the 3D photographic reconnaissance of the surface for the next lunar landings.
