China to launch Chang'e-3

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.