As China prepares to rocket its first space traveler into Earth orbit, the country's space officials also appear keen in lobbing a robotic probe to the Moon within three years.

The probe would be called Chang'e - named after a mythical lady who flew to the Moon for a lonely but peaceful and harmonious life.

However, all does not appear harmonious within Chinese science circles as to what priority such a project should receive. The jousting seems reminiscent of tensions between rival camps in NASA's own fiefdom.

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