(Yicai Global) Jan. 24 -- The astronomical research team at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Yunnan Observatory has made a major domestic breakthrough in lunar laser ranging technology.

The team yesterday used a 1.2-meter telescopic laser ranging system to ping beams of light at a reflector left on the moon by the US's Apollo 15 lunar mission. It successfully detected the reflections, marking the first successful experiment of its kind in China.

Laser ranging works akin to sonar but uses light instead of sound waves. The accomplishment will allow China to determine the distance between the earth and the moon by timing the beam's journey.

The US, France and Italy are the only other countries to achieve the feat.