http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/11/05/china.orbit.ap/index.htmlA Chinese satellite successfully entered lunar orbit Monday, a month after rival Japan put its own probe into orbit around the moon, but Chinese officials denied there was any competition between the two nations.
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China's first lunar probe Chang'e 1 launched on October 24.
Chinese space officials said the Chang'e 1 satellite, part of the country's ambitious space exploration plans, entered lunar orbit after completing a planned braking operation.
China plans to keep the Chang'e 1 -- named after a mythical Chinese goddess who flew to the moon -- there for one year, about the same length of time as Japan's probe. China launched its satellite late last month, while Japan put its satellite into space in September.
The timing of the launches raises the prospect of a space rivalry between the two Asian nations, with India possibly joining in if it carries through on a plan to send its own lunar probe into space in April.
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Japan and Now China all have satellites around the moon
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