Mooncake, festival and China's lunar mission

China's first satellite Dongfanghong-1. [Photo/Xinhua]

China's first satellite

Historical records show that way back at the end of 14th century, Wanhu, a scholar during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1683), was thinking about sending people into the sky by rockets.

He tied 47 self-made rockets on a chair, sat on the chair and held a big kite, expecting rockets to push him and the kite into the air to balance him for landing.

It didn't work out, of course, but his bold move inspired people to research the field more.

A milestone in the space field that truly excited all the Chinese was when the nation successfully launched its first man-made earth satellite on April 24, 1970.

The 173 kg satellite broadcast the then-popular song "Dongfanghong", which was picked up by the ground receivers and broadcast via the radio station to around the world.