China prepares to launch mission to collect moon rocks

Long March-5 rocket has been rolled into position for ignition expected this month

China is preparing to launch its lunar sample return mission, Chang'e-5. On Tuesday the 57-metre Long March-5 rocket was rolled into position at the Wenchang spacecraft launch site in south China's Hainan province.

This will be the fifth launch of the Long March-5. According to the China National Space Administration, ignition is likely to take place sometime in later November. Chang'e-5 was originally planned for launch in 2017, but the failure of the Long March 5's second flight delayed the schedule as a rocket engine was redesigned.