China to launch Chang'e-3

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China will launch a lunar probe, Chang'e-3 in early December, the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense announced Tuesday morning in Beijing.

The Chang'e-3 satellite and its carrier, the Long March-3B, are now in Xichang city of Sichuan province. The probe will be blasted into space within the first 10 days of December, Wu Zhijian, spokesman for the agency, told a press conference.

The lunar probe will conduct a soft landing on the moon's surface.

It will carry a special moon rover for detailed exploration and collection of lunar soil and stone samples.

The mission is part of the second stage of China's three-stage, unmanned lunar exploration, which includes orbiting, landing, analyzing and returning with lunar soil and stone samples.

The three stages are expected to be completed by 2020.

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• China to launch lunar probe for landing mission
• Scientist details plans for moon landing, Mars exploration
• China will send first rover to moon in 2013
• China to launch Chang'e-3 around 2013
• China to launch moon-landing probe around 2013
• China's probe to land on moon's surface in 2013
• 5 landing sites pre-selected for Chang'e-3 lunar probe
• China's 3rd lunar will carry lunar rover in 2013

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