BEIJING, October 22 (RIA Novosti) - China plans to launch its first Moon research satellite October 24 at 10 a.m. GMT, a Chinese space industry spokesman said Monday.

"The satellite will be launched October 24-26 and our first time choice is about 18 hours [local time] October 24," Li Guoping said.

The Chang'e 1 satellite has already been delivered to the launch pad at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwestern China.

Li said the satellite will reach circumlunar orbit around November 5, after which it is supposed to transmit photographs of the Moon, with the research lasting about a year.

China is implementing a three-stage Moon research and exploration program. This launch will be the first stage. The second stage will be made by 2012, with a lunar vehicle being delivered to the planet to operate for three months.

The third stage will include a research vehicle landing on the Moon and returning to the Earth with soil specimens.

China has been actively developing a manned flight program. The country launched the first manned spacecraft to space in October 2003. Two years later, a second ship with two astronauts on board was launched.