China will launch a soft lander and a lunar rover as part of its stage II moon probe project. The lunar rover will cruise the surface of the moon for three months, Beijing Morning Post quoted Ouyang Ziyuan, chief scientist of the nation's moon exploration program as saying.

Ouyang made the remarks Sunday at the "Capital Science Lecture Room" of the Wangfujing Xinhua Bookstore in Beijing, introducing China's lunar probe program to readers.

"The carrier rocket and the orbiter, Chang'e I, are all currently ready to be launched," said Ouyang.

During the three steps of the Moon probe project: orbiting, landing, and returning after sample collection, the Chang'e I satellite will be used for the first phase scheduled in 2007, and will provide 3D images of the moon's surface, probe the distribution of 14 usable elements on the moon, study lunar microwaves and estimate the depth of the moon's crust.

The orbiter will be followed by the soft lander and lunar rover, Ouyang said, which will complete scientific tasks on the moon.

The "Capital Science Lecture Room" at the Wangfujing Xinhua Bookstore is a public activity aimed at promoting scientific knowledge. Every Sunday morning, renowned scientists give lectures to the public. Attendance is free.

(CRIENGLISH.com May 28, 2007)