BEIJING, Mar. 16 (China Space News) — China has begun designing and manufacturing the flight model entity of its third lunar probe, Chang'e-3, according to the administration of China's lunar probe project.

As a key part of the second step of China's three-phase lunar probe projects, the Chang'e-3 mission has entered the flight mode phase from prototype phase, according to a statement from the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence (SASTIND).

Chang'e-3 was developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. It is scheduled to be launched in 2013.

The probe will carry a lunar rover and other instruments for land surveys, living conditions assessment, and space observations.