IPFS News Link • Space Travel and Exploration
China Details Future Moon Plans, Including Polar Research Station
• https://www.space.com By Leonard DavidThe State Council Information Office of China (SCIO) held a press conference Monday (Jan. 14) to discuss that epic touchdown, and to give an overview of the nation's future activities on Earth's nearest neighbor.
One of the near-term highlights is the Chang'e 5 sample-return mission, which China aims to launch before the end of the year. [Photos Cina On the Moon! A History of Chinese Lunar Missions in Pictures]
"Experts are still discussing and verifying the feasibility of subsequent projects, but it's confirmed that there will be another three missions after Chang'e 5," Wu Yanhua, deputy head of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), said at the press briefing.
According to Wu, the Chang'e 6 mission will be designed to bring samples back from the moon's south polar region. "Whether the probe will land on the near side or the far side of the moon, we will make the decision according to the performance of Chang'e 5," he said.