The probe was named after the Moon goddess and one of the most popular figures in Chinese mythology.

It is expected to make a soft landing in the South Pole-Aitken Basin, a vast depression which is 2,500km (1,553 miles) wide and up to 8km (5 miles) deep.

It then aims to collect lunar soil and rocks, and conduct experiments, using a drill and a mechanical arm, the China National Space Administration said.

It will use a relay satellite named Queqiao 2 to communicate with the Earth, it added.

The launch marks the first of three uncrewed missions to the moon planned by China this decade.

Chang'e-7 will search the lunar south pole for water, and Chang'e-8 will attempt to establish the technical feasibility of building a planned base, known as the International Lunar Research Station.

Its predecessor, Chang'e-5, retrieved the youngest ever lavas from the Moon on its return in December 2020.

Friday's lift off marks the latest stage in China's space exploration programme that is competing with the US.

Five years ago China became the first country to land a rover on the Moon's far side.

By 2030, it aims to have put its first astronauts on the Moon, and to have sent probes to collect samples from Mars and Jupiter.