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Later this year, China will launch its newest lunar probe, the Chang'e 4, on a mission at the other end of the moon.
The launch in December is the last phase of the ambitious lunar exploration program and, if successful, it will be the first successful landing on the other side of the moon. .
Also known as the Chang'e program – named after the Chinese goddess who, according to myth, flies on the moon – is part of a series of missions that began in 2003.
China embarks on a pioneering journey from the other side of the moon
The full program is expected to last more than 20 years and the plan is expected to result in a forced landing in the midst of 2036.
Here we look at how the program has developed up to now and what will follow.
Phase I: Orbit
The program consists of three phases: orbit, soft landing, and sample return.
Chang'e 1
Chang'e 1 was an unmanned satellite sent into orbit around the moon as part of the first phase of the program.
It was launched on October 24, 2007 aboard a Long March 3A.
It left the lunar transfer orbit on October 31 and was found in a polar orbit on November 5. It continued in orbit until March 2009, four months longer than originally planned.
The mission generated a high resolution 3D map providing a vital resource for future lunar landings.
The spacecraft also helped map some chemical elements on the lunar surface – providing a record of potentially useful resources.
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Chang & # 39; e 2
Chang'e 2 was launched on October 1, 2010 aboard a Long March 3C rocket. It became the first lunar probe to enter a Earth-Moon transfer orbit without orbiting the Earth.
He reached the moon in less than five days, compared to 12 times for Chang'e 1.
Although the spacecraft is similar to its predecessor in terms of design, Chang'e 2 was the first spacecraft to have an advanced onboard camera installed.
After mapping the moon in November 2010, the probe moved into a different position in space to test China's tracking, telemetry and control network.
He then made an overview of the asteroid 4179 Toutatis near Earth in April 2012.
Phase II: landing
The second phase of the program saw China become the third country in the world – after America and the Soviet Union – to land lunar spacecraft and rovers on the surface of the moon.
Chang & # 39; e 3
Chang'e 3 was launched on December 2, 2013 aboard a Long March 3B rocket and landed on the moon two weeks later.
The spacecraft was carrying the 140 kg (310 lb) Yutu moon rover, or Rabbit Jabet, which was named after the companion of the goddess Chang'e.
Yutu has become a social media sensation by sending back messages to Earth and collecting more than 600,000 fans from the Weibo microblogging site.
The jade rabbit was equipped with solar panels to provide energy, 3D stereo cameras to observe the moon's surface, antennas, spectrometers on a robot arm that measured the lunar floor.
He had wheels to explore an area of three square kilometers over a three-month period, as well as observations on galaxies, stars, and the structure and dynamics of the Earth's plasmasphere.
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He was assumed dead after remaining silent in February 2014, but later returned to life. When that happened, a message was posted on his account saying, "Hi, someone there?"
Despite mobility issues, he remained active for more than two years, making it the most durable rover of the moon.
Chang & # 39; e 4
Chang'e 4, which was originally scheduled for launch in 2015, was postponed until December this year, due in part to serious launcher issues launched on March 5th.
This will be the first mission to land and explore the hidden face of the moon because the inability to communicate directly with the Earth makes the landing much more difficult.
The crater of Von Karman, near the South Pole of the Moon, will be a major objective. It is thought that it contains rich mineral sources such as iron oxide and thorium, which could be used as substitutes for uranium.
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Because the dark side of the moon never faces the Earth, scientists hope that the lack of radio interference will allow them to capture the electromagnetic radiation of the primitive universe, providing valuable clues as to their origin.
Queqiao, the bridge of the magpie, a relay satellite launched in May, will play a key role in the mission of Chang'e 4, as it will receive information from the mobile and transmit it to control stations on earth.
Phase III: sampling
The third phase of the mission is to collect samples from the surface of the moon and send them back to Earth for analysis.
Chang & # 39; e 5-T1
Chang'e 5-T1 was a precursor mission used to perform atmospheric reentry tests on the capsule that will be used in the main mission next year.
The experimental probe was launched on October 23, 2015 and landed in Inner Mongolia nine days later.
The capsule was carrying bacteria and plant samples to test their response to radiation exposure during low Earth orbit.
Chang & # 39; e 5
China's first sample return mission will be launched later next year after being delayed due to the failure of the Long March 5 launcher.
It aims to collect at least 2 kg of lunar soil and rock samples before returning to Earth.
The Lunar Rover of Chang'e 5 will be equipped with important components such as a robotic arm, a rotor drill, a shovel for sampling and individual tubes to separate different soil samples.
Chang'e 6
Chang'e 6 is expected to be launched around 2020 on a March 5 long rocket if the previous mission goes as planned.
It is also a sample return mission and will attempt to build on the work of its predecessor.
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