China to launch Chang'e 3 at year end
By Li Hongmei
China plans to launch Chang'e 3, the country's first moon rover, at the end of 2013, the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense said Wednesday.
China's robotic Chang'e 3 mission marks a big step forward in the nation's lunar exploration program. Chang'e 3 will become China's first craft to attempt a soft landing and rover deployment on the surface of the moon.
China's multi-phase moon venture began with the orbiters Chang'e 1 and Chang'e 2, which launched in 2007 and 2010, respectively.
