XICHANG, Sichuan Province, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's vice premier Zeng Peiyan has called for the work team for the country's first lunar probe to work for the smooth post-launch operation to ensure success of the probe.

The orbiter Chang'e-1 blasted off on a Long March 3A carrier rocket at 6:05 p.m. (10:05GMT) Wednesday from the No. 3 launching tower at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, southwest China's Sichuan province.

Zeng asked the work team to pay special attention to monitoring the satellite, adjusting its inclination and orbit, and the data reception and processing work.

Zeng also required the workers to be more "meticulous and discreet", and make sure no hitch happens in any phase.

Zeng, who watched the launch at the Xichang launch center, said the launch "marks another milestone in China's aerospace program after man-made satellites and manned space flights".

The launch of Chang'e-1 means that China has taken a key step in its lunar exploration program. It is a symbol of China's bid to build an innovative country, he said.

China's moon exploration program, initiated in 2004, is among the 16 major projects listed in the national medium and long-term program for scientific and technological development.

Wednesday's launch is the first step of China's three-stage moon mission, which will lead to a moon landing and launch of a moon rover around 2012. In the third phase, another rover will land on the moon and return to earth with lunar soil and stone samples for scientific research around 2017.

Guo Boxiong, Vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Cao Gangchuan, China's Defense Minister, also watched the launch at the Xichang center.