China is expected to launch its fifth lunar probe, Chang’e-5, in 2017 to send back a moon rock sample to earth, a top Chinese space scientist told Xinhua Wednesday.<\/p>\n
A lunar landing probe, lunar surface patrol device and other equipment would be carried by Chang’e-5, said Ye Peijian, chief designer of Chang’e-1, the country’s first moon probe, and chief commander of the Chang’e-2 and Chang’e-3 missions.<\/p>\n
“Chang’e-5 will also carry a drilling machine to get moon rock from a depth of 2 meters underground,” he said.<\/p>\n
He revealed that experts from Hong Kong and Macao would participate in the lunar probe project.<\/p>\n
Ye was speaking ahead of his attendance at the annual session of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, China’s top political advisory body, which is to convene Thursday.<\/p>\n
China launched its first lunar probe, Chang’e-1, named after the country’s mythical Moon Goddess, on Oct. 24, 2007, from the southwestern Sichuan Province. The probe ended its 16-month mission on March 1, 2009, when it crashed into the moon’s surface.<\/p>\n
The second lunar probe, Chang’e-2, was launched on Oct. 1 last year. It entered its long-term lunar orbit on Nov. 3, beginning a six-month mission to take high-resolution images of the moon’s Sinus Iridum, or Bay of Rainbows.<\/p>\n
Space authorities have revealed that China would launch its third unmanned probe to the moon, Chang’e-3, in 2013.<\/p>\n
“A soft-landing on moon will be a main aim for Chang’e-3,” Ye said.<\/p>\n
A China-designed moon rover would land with Chang’e-3, he said.<\/p>\n
The moon rover is a robot that can move and accomplish complicated tasks of detecting, collecting and analyzing samples.<\/p>\n
After Chang’e-3, China would launch Chang’e-4 with the goal of achieving automatic patrols on the moon, Ye said.<\/p>\n
But a launch time for the fourth lunar probe remains unknown.<\/p>\n
According to China’s three-phase moon exploration plan, the first phase was the launch of Chang’e-2. The second will be when Chang’e-3 lands on the moon in 2013. Then, in 2017, a moon rock sample will be returned to earth.<\/p>\n
Space experts have said the country would conduct more than 20 space missions this year as it accelerated efforts to improve space technologies.<\/p>\n
Last year China conducted 15 space missions. <\/p>\n
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