Those two newly launched Moon orbiters — Japan’s Kaguya and China’s Chang’e-1 — have reached critical milestones.

Chang’e-1 will brake into lunar orbit on November 5th. To herald its arrival, the Chinese probe will broadcast 30 classical Chinese songs and music pieces, such as “My Motherland”, “The Song of the Yangtze River”, and “High Mountains and Flowing Water”.

For the first time, European Space Agency (ESA) tracking stations have transmitted telecommands to a Chinese satellite. Signals from ESA’s Maspalomas station were successfully received by the Chang’e-1 mission, reported officials from China’s mission control.

Meanwhile, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) announced October 31 that their Kaguya Moon orbiter has deployed its Lunar Magnetometer, Lunar Radar Sounder, as well as the Earth-looking Upper Atmosphere and Plasma Imager. The spacecraft is in excellent shape to start science operations.