今日上午，防科学技术工业局在北京宣布中国将于12月上旬发射月球探测器嫦娥三号。现嫦娥三号和嫦娥三号运载火箭长征3B已转入西昌卫星发射中心发射现场。
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.
