China to launch Chang'e-3 lunar probe at year end

China's Chang'e-3 probe has been scheduled to enter space at the end of this year for its lunar landing mission, the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence announced on Wednesday.

"Chang'e-3 has officially entered its launch implementation stage following its research and construction period," said a statement released by the administration after a Wednesday meeting on the mission.

The mission will see a Chinese orbiter soft-land, or land on the moon after using a technique to slow its speed, on a celestial body for the first time.