China has been steadily advancing its lunar exploration program over the past two decades, making significant strides in its ambition to become a leading space power. Here’s a look at China’s key lunar missions, both past and present, as well as its future plans:
Past Missions
- Chang’e-1 (2007-2009): China’s first lunar orbiter, Chang’e-1, was launched in 2007 and successfully mapped the entire lunar surface, providing valuable data for future missions. 4
- Chang’e-2 (2010-2012): The second lunar orbiter, Chang’e-2, was launched in 2010 and achieved higher-resolution mapping of the lunar surface, as well as a flyby of the asteroid Toutatis. 5
- Chang’e-3 (2013): In 2013, China became the third country to soft-land a spacecraft on the Moon with the Chang’e-3 mission, which included a lander and the Yutu rover. 5
- Chang’e-4 (2018-2019): This historic mission achieved the first-ever landing on the far side of the Moon, with the Chang’e-4 lander and Yutu-2 rover exploring the Von Kármán crater in the South Pole-Aitken Basin. 1
- Chang’e-5 (2020): In 2020, China became the first country to retrieve lunar samples in over 40 years, with the Chang’e-5 mission successfully bringing back 1.7 kilograms of material from the Moon’s surface. 1
Present Mission
- Chang’e-6 (2024): China is currently preparing to launch the Chang’e-6 mission, which aims to retrieve samples from the far side of the Moon, a first for any country. The mission is scheduled for launch in 2024. 2
Future Plans
- International Lunar Research Station (ILRS): China is leading the development of the ILRS, a joint project with Russia, to establish a permanent research station on the Moon by the mid-2030s. The station will support scientific exploration and resource utilization. 23
- Crewed Lunar Missions: China is also working towards sending astronauts to the Moon, with plans to establish a crewed lunar base in the future. This ambitious goal is part of China’s long-term space exploration strategy. 2
China’s lunar exploration program has made remarkable progress, and the country is poised to continue its leadership in this field. The upcoming Chang’e-6 mission to retrieve samples from the far side of the Moon, as well as the plans for the ILRS and crewed lunar missions, demonstrate China’s unwavering commitment to advancing its space capabilities and contributing to the global exploration of the Moon.