The spokesman for the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (COSTIND) Monday revealed that the implementation plan for the second stage of China's lunar probe project - to launch a rover vehicle for soft-landing on the moon - has been completed.

Research work on key technology has also started ahead of schedule.

This year, China will launch 17 satellites and the Shenzhou VII, the country's third manned spacecraft, and the first to be used for a spacewalk mission.

According to earlier reports, the Shenzhou VII will carry three astronauts into space, where it will orbit the Earth for up to five days.

The Xinhua News Agency said last week that 14 astronauts are currently in training.