Shenzhou-10 and Chang'e-3 to be launched in 2013  

Jiuquan (CNS) -- China plans to send the Shenzhou-10 spacecraft, the Chang'e-3 moon probe and nearly 20 satellites into space next year, a person in charge of the project said Wednesday.

China sent a Turkish satellite into space early Wednesday morning via Long March 2D carrier rocket. It marked the successful completion of this year's launches and showed that the country's space industry is achieving a stable and rapid development, the person said.

Next year China will carry out a manned space docking test between the Tiangong-1 and the Shenzhou-10, as well as a trial of the second stage of the lunar probe program, he said.

The Shenzhou-10 will be launched around June next year, Niu Hongguang, deputy chief commander of the China Manned Space Engineering Project, has said.

Launch of the Chang'e-3 is planned for the latter half of next year, and the probe is expected to land and stay on the moon, according to information released by the State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.