BEIJING, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- China will launch a new lunar mission this week to test technology likely to be used in Chang'e-5, a future lunar probe with the ability to return to Earth.

The spacecraft launched this week is expected to reach a location near the moon and return to earth, according to a source with the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense on Wednesday.

It is scheduled to launch between Friday and Sunday.