Chang'e-3 lunar probe sent to launch site

China's Chang'e-3 lunar probe is on its way from Beijing to the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in south west Sichuan province. It's expected to be launched at the end of this year to land on the moon.

China's Chang'e-3 lunar probe is on its way from Beijing to the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in south west Sichuan province. It's expected to be launched at the end of this year to land on the moon.

Seven vehicles carried parts of the probe to Beijing Capital international Airport early on Thursday for their four hour journey. Workers will carry out a series of inspections and tests after they arrive. Chang'e-3 lunar probe consists of a service module and a landing module.

The craft will use a radio-controlled rover to transmit images and dig into the moon's surface to test samples.

It will also carry a near-ultraviolet astronomical telescope to observe stars, the galaxy and universe from the moon.