China to visit the Moon's north pole and south pole in 2017

Beijing, May 30: China has unveiled plans to visit the monn's north and south poles late next year and bring samples to Earth.

To further enhance the country's aerospace development, China's Chang'e 5 probe will undertake the mission, cited the China's State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.

China's maiden lunar mission was the launch of Chang'e 1 satellite into the moon's orbit in 2007, which was followed by a lunar probe onto its surface in 2013. China became the third country, after Russia and US, to launch a human into space in 2003.

The country sees space exploration as a key component of building the world's most populous nation's international prestige. Plans to launch a Mars rover in 2020 was also unveiled by Beijing.

OneIndia News