The lunar satellite, named Chang'e-1, was launched at 6:05 p.m on Wednesday from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwestern Sichuan Province, marking the first step of China's ambitious three-stage moon mission and a new milestone in the country's space exploration history.

"Chang'e-1 only conducts scientific missions, without any military aims and carrying no military facilities and equipment," said a spokesman of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (COSTIND) on Wednesday.

"When China has accumulated enough in space technology and economic strength, it's natural to make the decision to stride towards deep space exploration," said Luan, adding the moon probe was "the first step", which was in line with the basic principle of "scientific probing from the near to the far".

Chinese scientists started systematic and comprehensive analysis and research about lunar science as early as mid-1960s, and started feasibility study on lunar probe plans in 1990s. A government White Paper on China's space technology released in 2000 disclosed Chinese ambitions in moon exploration for the first time.

When China conducted lunar probe research and feasibility study, there were few moon probe activities in the world and most countries had not announced any new lunar exploration plans. "Our decision-making process was carried out without any exterior influences," Luan said.

Chinese space experts, technicians and other work staff, joined by experts from Japan, Germany and other countries were watching the launching process on the spot Wednesday.

More than a month ago, Chinese space experts were also invited to the launch site of a Japanese lunar satellite.

"China welcomes international cooperation in space activities, "said Vice Minister of Science and Technology Li Xueyong, adding China hopes to become the 17th nation to join the International Space Station (ISS) project.

The International Space Station is a joint project of 16 nations including the United States, Russia, Japan, Canada, Brazil and 11 countries from the European Space Agency.

"China sincerely wants to cooperate with the United States in space exploration and join the International Space Station project that has already involved 16 nations," said Li.

Although the United States and Soviet Union have made achievements in lunar probe, mankind still knew little about the moon and many fields remain to be explored, Luan said, citing "four scientific objectives" to be fulfilled by the China'e-1 satellite.

"Scientists of different countries engaging in moon probe all set up their own scientific goals based on the field they are interested in," said Ouyang Ziyuan, chief scientist of the lunar probe project, who has been engaged in lunar science research for more than 30 years.

"There are no good or bad goals. The achievements will upgrade the knowledge of the whole mankind towards the moon, not that of a certain country," Ouyang said.

Chinese scientists and engineers "independently" completed research and production of the country's lunar probe project which boasted distinctive Chinese characteristics, said Luan, adding China's lunar probe "enriched mankind's moon probe activities and promoted development of deep space exploration worldwide".

"It's a breakthrough for China and an important scientific exploration for the world," said the COSTIND spokesman.