China's lunar probe to launch at year's end

CHINA'S second lunar probe, Chang'e-2, scheduled to be launched by year-end, will take less than five days to reach the moon's orbit, half the time taken by its first lunar probe.

According to Xinhua News Agency reports citing China's top moon orbiting and exploration scientist Ouyang Ziyuan, the Chang'e-2 mission was reprogrammed to carry more "sophisticated exploration" jobs which would be useful for safe moon landing in future missions.

In October 2007, China successfully launched the Chang'e-1 lunar probe as the country's first step towards a moon mission. That mission carried out an impact on the lunar surface to complete its 16-month mission in March last year. Chang'e-1 took 13 days, 14 hours and 19 minutes to enter the moon's orbit. "With the experience gathered from Chang'e-1, we are now more confident to change the orbiting design by launching the lunar probe direct to the moon," said Ouyang. He said Chang'e-2 would be equipped with high-resolution stereo camera to enter a closer orbit, at 100km above the moon surface. Bernama