China will send its first-ever unmanned space probe to the Moon tonight to explore the lunar surface, a major milestone that would also be the Communist giant's maiden soft-landing on an extra-terrestrial celestial body.
The lunar probe will be launched around 2200 hrs IST from Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, the mission's launching headquarters said yesterday.
With the launch, China expects to join the exclusive club of United States and former Soviet Union.
It is first time China is attempting soft-landing on a celestial body, and also the first time any lunar soft-landing has been carried out since 1976, when other countries suspended exploration, Li Benzheng, deputy commander in chief of the lunar exploration programme.
India's Chandrayaan-1, which was credited to have discovered water in the lunar surface made a hard-landing on the Moon.
Using data collected by Chandrayaan mission, United States, NASA scientists have has detected magmatic water locked under the surface of the Moon.
Coincidentally China's Chang'e-3 will be heading to the Moon while India's Mangalayan orbiter cruised to Mars after leaving Earth's orbit last night.
Earlier Li congratulated India on its successful launch of a mission to Mars. He said China is not competing with any other country, but it is interested in peaceful advancements.
After touching down on the Moon's surface, the unmanned craft will release roving vehicle -- called 'Yutu' or 'jade rabbit' in Chinese.
In folklore, a white rabbit was the pet of Moon goddess Chang'e. Yutu will roam the Moon's surface to learn more about Earth's satellite, Li said.
The rover, equipped with four cameras, will patrol the surface for at least three months.
If it explores the edge of the crater, it will identify material that originated deep below the surface and provide new clues about the moon's history by digging about 100 meters, space officials said.
Also for the first time China would establish a telescope on the Moon to observe the earth, state-run CCTV said.
"The lander will open a new age in space exploration by China," Li said.
Tasks for Yutu include surveying the Moon's geological structure and surface substances, while looking for natural resources.
"More than 80 per cent of the technology adopted in the mission is new, and with new technology and products carrying out new tasks, there are certainly great risks," Li said.
