Beijing: China plans to launch its third
unmanned mission to the moon in 2013, even as it selected two
women astronauts for the first time to take part in its future
space lab.
The third unmanned probe to the moon `Chang`e-3` will be
launched around 2013 and is expected to complete the
three-phase moon mission by 2017.
"The Chang`e-3 mission will include an unmanned soft
landing on the moon and the release of a moon rover to
prospect the surface and interior of the moon," Ye Peijian
chief designer Chang`e-1, country`s first moon probe was
quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency.
Ye said the Chang`e-3 mission has made "good progress" in
its prototype development stage and he believes the mission
would be carried out as scheduled after overcoming a variety
of difficulties.
Chang`e-2 and Chang`e-3 are part of the second phase of
the country`s lunar exploration programme. Chang`e-2 is
designed to test key soft landing technologies for the
Chang`e-3 and provide high-resolution photo images of the
landing area.
China also selected its second batch of astronauts,
including five men and two women. This is first time women
have joined the country`s space mission.
"The two women astronauts, both aero-transport pilots
from the People`s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force, might take
part in manned docking of China`s future space lab, Zhang
Jianqi, former deputy commander of the country`s manned space
programme said.
-PTI
