China to use new rocket for moon landing mission

A Long March-3B carrier rocket is launched in Xichang, Southwest China's Sichuan province, Nov 27, 2012. China successfully sent a French-made communication satellite "APSTAR-7B" into orbit with a Long March-3B carrier rocket launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, Nov 27, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - A rocket expert said Friday that China has developed a modified model of Long March-3B carrier rocket for an upcoming moon landing mission to be completed by the Chang'e-3 moon orbiter.

The orbiter's structure and size are considerably different than those of its predecessors, requiring some modifications for the carrier rocket,  according to Liang Xiaohong, Communist Party of China (CPC) chief of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.

With its improved design, the modified model of March-3B carrier rocket has greater reliability and carrying capacity, Liang said.

The Chang'e-3 is scheduled to be launched in the latter half of the year.