China's Chang'e-3 lunar probe is scheduled to be launched at the end of this year for a moon landing mission, the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense said on August 28.

"The Chang'e-3 has officially entered the launching stage, following the successful completion of its research and manufacture," said a statement released by the administration.

The mission will see a Chinese space probe land on a celestial body for the first time.

The Chang'e-3 mission is part of the second phase of China's lunar exploration program, which will include orbiting and then landing on the moon and then successfully returning to Earth. The mission follows the successful completion of the Chang'e-1 and Chang'e-2 missions, which included plotting a high-resolution, full-coverage lunar map.

The Chang'e-3's carrier rocket has successfully gone through its first tests. The launch pad, control and ground application systems are ready for the mission.