Long March 3B in 2nd stage mission

China is studying the feasibility of using the Long March 3B carrier rocket for the country's second-stage moon mission of lunar landing, a spokesman for the China National Space Administration said yesterday.

The Long March 3B carrier rocket is from the same family as the Long March 3A on which Chang'e I was launched. It boasts "strong thrust power", Pei Zhaoyu, the spokesman, told a press conference.

Long March 3B is the most powerful carrier rocket developed by China. It can send 5.1 tons of payload into the geosynchronous orbit.