China today launched a probe to orbit the moon, in preparation for its first mission to land a craft on the lunar surface and return to Earth, a news report said.
The Long March-3C rocket took off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in the south-western province of Sichuan early today, Xinhua reported.
China tests moon probe ahead of return lunar mission
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The mission is set to take eight days, and include a half-orbit around the moon.
