12:32, 28 December 2009 | GMT +5
China to launch Chang'e-2 satellite at the end of 2010
BEIJING. December 28. KAZINFORM China planned to launch the Chang'e-2, the country's second lunar probe, at the end of 2010, the State Administration of Science Technology and Industry for National Defense said Monday, Kazinform refers to China Daily.

The Chang'e-2 was to test key soft landing technologies for the Chang'e-3 and provide high-resolution photo images of the landing area, the administration said.
China has made progress on six key technologies of Chang'e-2, including the lunar capture, orbit control and the research on high-resolution stereo camera, it said.
Ye Peijian, chief designer of Chang'e-1, the country's first moon probe, said earlier that China's three-stage moon mission could be defined as "orbiting", "landing" and "returning".
Chang'e-2 and Chang'e-3 are part of the second phase of the country's lunar exploration program, Kazinform cites China Daily. See www.chinadaily.com.cn for full version.