Beijing, China (CNN) -- China launched its second lunar probe Friday, as the country celebrated more than six decades under communism.
The rocket carrying the unmanned probe blasted off at 7 p.m. from a launching tower at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, state-run media said.
The Friday launch date falling on China's National Day is a coincidence, space officials told China Daily.
"According to scientific calculations, only three days [from Friday to Sunday] are suitable in the whole year for launching the lunar probe," said Qian Weiping, chief designer of the mission's tracking and control system, according to China Daily.
More than 2,000 residents within 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles) of the launch pad were evacuated as a precaution ahead of the launch.
CNN
