(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-10-23 20:01

BEIJING -- Experts said Tuesday though China's Long March 3A has completed 14 successful launches in a row, there are three major factors that may affect its coming task to launch the nation's first lunar orbiter.

The factors include operating errors by staff on the launch site, unfavorable weather and the quality of the rocket itself.

According to the experts, weather may delay the launch and the rocket will not be able to take off if there is thunder, heavy rain or high winds.

Jin Zhiqiang, deputy command-in-chief of the rocket system of China's lunar probe program, said harsh weather could cause short circuits in electronic components in the rocket. Meanwhile, if tubes and valves of the Long March 3A, which is a low-temperature rocket, are frozen, and are not defrosted in time, launch could be delayed so much that they might miss their favourable launch window.

Earlier media reports said China was planning to launch its first moon orbiter at around 6:00 pm on October 24 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwestern China's Sichuan Province.

The lunar satellite has been named Chang'e I after the legendary Chinese goddess who, according to legend, flew to the moon.

"The satellite will be launched between October 24 and 26 and our first choice is around 6:00 pm on October 24,"a spokesman for the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said.

"What is worrying me most is the possibility that there is still something we haven't thought of,"said Ye Peijian, chief designer and command-in-chief of the satellite system of China's lunar probe program.

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