Plans prepared for Mars probe

BEIJING - China has drawn up a technical plan for an independent Mars orbiter exploration project, space technology experts said.

Based on research conducted by the China Academy of Space Technology, the plan envisions a launch date as early as 2013, Huang Jiangchuan, a scientist with the academy, was quoted by Beijing-based Science and Technology Daily as saying at a forum on China's space technology on Thursday.

The Mars probe would weigh 1,040 kg and carry 110 kg of payload, he said.