The Chang'e-2 lunar orbiter will be launched to the Moon in October 2010 by the People's Republic of China, and its first lunar rover prior to the end of 2012, according to Ye Peijian, chief designer of the nation's first moon probe in a report by China Daily.The scientist also said Chang'e-3, China's first lunar lander and rover, is scheduled to be launched on board a Long March 3B launch booster rocket from the Xichang space center in southwestern China prior to 2013. The first Chinese lunar landing mission in the Sinus Iridium (Bay of Rainbows) will explore the geological structure of the Moon in search of usable resources, AP.
The ultimate goal of the Chinese project is to put a man on the Moon by 2020 and build a space base on the Earth's natural satellite by 2050. China has expressed interest in mining and extraction of helium 3 from the lunar surface.
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