China Unveils Ambitious Moon Mission Plans for 2024 and Beyond

By Andrew Jones | SPACE.com Foreign Correspondent

China has a mission operating on the far side of the moon and is preparing to launch another this year to collect lunar samples. And the country plans to add to its impressive lunar resume, with a new set of missions to explore the moon's south pole.

China's Chang'e 4 lander on the far side of the moon, as seen by the mission's Yutu 2 rover.
(Image: © CNSA)

Chang'e 6, a backup mission for this year's sample-return launch, is scheduled to head to the moon in 2023 or 2024; Chang'e 7 is planned to launch around 2024 with the dual aims of landing on the south pole of the moon and closely studying the region from orbit. An eighth mission is also in the works for later this decade.