China's first lunar buggy set for launch next month

The country's first lunar probe will deploy a buggy to explore the moon's surface when it lands early next month, a major milestone in the national space programme.

Scientists have already photographed the surface of the moon to prepare for the landing, a spokesman for the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence said.

In 2007, the country launched its first moon orbiter, the Chang'e-1 orbiter, named after a lunar goddess. The spacecraft took images of the moon's surface and analysed the distribution of elements. The lunar explorer buggy was named "Yutu" in a public vote. Yutu, or Jade Rabbit, is a reference to the goddess' pet rabbit in folklore.

"Chang'e-3's mission requires mastering many key technologies," spokesman Wu Zhijian said. "The technical difficulties and the risks involved in carrying out the mission will be high. In taking on the mission to land on the moon, Chang'e-3 will help China fulfil its lunar exploration dream, its space dream and the Chinese dream."

Scientists would carry out a soft landing and the buggy would rove around on the moon's surface, he said. Scientists would also test deep space communication technologies.

Advancing the space programme has been a priority for Beijing, with President Xi Jinping calling for the country to establish itself as a space superpower. Scientists have discussed the possibility of sending a person to the moon after 2020.