China's second unmanned lunar probe, Chang'e-2, blasts off on Friday, inaugurating the second phase of the country's three-step lunar exploration program.

At 6:59:57 PM Friday, the Chang'e-2 blasted off on a Long March 3C carrier rocket from the No. 2 launching tower at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The lunar probe will test key technologies and collect data for future landings of Chang'e III and Chang'e IV, and provide high-resolution photographs of the landing area.

Chang'e II was built as an alternative to Chang'e I, which was launched in October 2007 and maintained a 16-month lunar orbit. The series of Chang'e probes is named after a legendary Chinese moon goddess.

Long March 3C rocket carrying China's second unmanned lunar probe, Chang'e II, lifts off from the launch pad at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, at 18:59:57 (Beijing time) on Oct. 1, 2010. [Xinhua]

Long March 3C rocket carrying China's second unmanned lunar probe, Chang'e II, lifts off from the launch pad at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, at 18:59:57 (Beijing time) on Oct. 1, 2010. [Xinhua]

(Xinhua News Agency October 1, 2010)