China will launch a mission to explore the polar regions of the moon by 2030, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
Speaking at the World Conference on Science Literacy in Beijing this week, Li Guoping, director of the Department of System Engineering at the CNSA, revealed that China is planning four missions to explore the lunar surface.
The missions will form part of the fourth stage of China’s lunar exploration programme, Chang’e.
Mr Guoping revealed that the Chang’e-4 lunar probe will land on the far side of the Moon by the end of 2018.
The probe will undertake a variety of missions, including bringing samples back to Earth, and visiting the lunar poles.
The researchers hope the mission to the South Pole will provide new information on the age and composition of the lunar soil.
Meanwhile, the mission to the North Pole aims to reveal whether water ice exists on the Moon.
In the future, China may also set up a permanent lunar base to aid future missions, according to Mr Guoping.
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