Associated Press

BEIJING - China, on the verge of its first attempt at manned space flight, said Monday it would launch a satellite to survey the moon within three years.

"The surveying satellite will orbit the moon for a year to explore the geography, soil, environment and resources of the moon," state radio reported.

Chinese scientists had fixed the route for the surveying satellite and it would take eight or nine days to put it into orbit, the report said. It gave no further details.

The latest pronouncement on Beijing's bid to conquer space comes as China prepares to become just the third country to put a person into orbit, after the United States and former Soviet Union.

The manned space program is shrouded in secrecy, with speculation a launch could come during the week-long Oct. 1 National Day holidays, which wind up Tuesday, or later in the month.

Chinese space officials have hinted they are pursuing a multi-pronged human space flight program, including space station construction, as well as eventual travel to the moon, all by 2020.