China to launch Chang'e-3 lunar probe at year end

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China's Chang'e-3 probe has been scheduled to enter space at the end of this year for its lunar landing mission, the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence announced on Wednesday.

"Chang'e-3 has officially entered its launch implementation stage following its research and construction period," said a statement released by the administration after a Wednesday meeting on the mission.

The mission will see a Chinese orbiter soft-land, or land on the moon after using a technique to slow its speed, on a celestial body for the first time.

• Chang’e-3, a soft landing on the moon
• Chang´e-2, a follow-up to the Chang'e 1 lunar orbiter
• Chang´e-1, China's first step in lunar probe
• Chinese space program: What to probe after lunar exploration?
• Chinese space program: Moon exploration enhances deep space exploration technology
• Chinese space program: Core of probe to deep space is resource
• Chang'e III probe can select landing site on moon by itself
• China's lunar probe ready to photograph Bay of Rainbows
• China's second lunar probe completes final braking, enters working orbit
• China's second lunar probe completes first braking

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