Xinhua News Agency cited sources from China's Department of Defense Science-Technology-Industry (SASTIND) on November 26, saying the country will launch a lunar exploration ship.
At 1:30 (local time) on December 2 at the Center launched the Xuchang satellite, Sichuan Province, with Changzheng 3B rocket.
The moon may be a great source of minerals and energy, a leading Chinese scientist said in a recent interview with the foreign news agency.
According to the Xiaoxiang Morning Post, the incident occurred 9 minutes after the launch of the surface probe on the early Monday of December 2.
China is planning to launch the third explorer ship to the moon later this year to continue surveying the planet.