China is preparing to launch an unmanned spacecraft to bring back lunar rocks, the first attempt by any nation to retrieve samples from the moon in four decades.
Beijing is investing billions in its military-run space programme, with hopes of having a crewed space station by 2022 and eventually sending humans to the moon.
The Chang’e-5 probe aims to shovel up lunar rocks and soil to help scientists learn about the moon’s origins, formation and volcanic activity on its surface.
According to Chinese local media, the mission is set to take off from the Wenchang Space Center in the southern island province of Hainan.
In the meantime, no date was provided.
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