China plans to build on the moon

The probe is launched for this purpose and ready to send another

China will launch a probe to collect samples from the moon at the end of this year, a space space manager said Monday, a few days after a Chinese probe landed on the hidden side of the moon.

Vice President of the Space Department, Wu Yanhua, said in a press briefing quoted by Reuters that probe Zhang Ah-5's mission, which should take samples from the moon's side, will take place at the end of the day. # 39; year.

According to Wu, probe Zhang Ah-5's mission would pave the way for sending other probes to the South Pole of the Moon and could return samples on the other side, according to the results of the next mission.

According to the Chinese official, the tests carried out by future missions could help build on the surface of the planet by experimenting with techniques such as 3D printing or the use of lunar soil in construction.

The Chinese probe Chang-e-4 landed on the moon on January 3 and sent the first close-up image of the hidden face of the planet.

The Chang-ah-4 missions include astronomical observations, the study of rocky terrain and composition of the moon, the measurement of neutron radiation and neutral atoms to study the environment of the moon. other side of the moon.

The exploration of space has been a priority for China in recent years. It must catch up with Russia and the United States to become a major space power by 2030 and plans to start building an inhabited space station next year.