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China to conquer the moon
China declares its intention to launch lunar mission, aiming to become the first nation to reach the moon since 1972.
No nation has launched a lunar mission since 1972 when American astronauts landed as part of the Apollo 17 mission
Chinese authorities confirmed its lunar ambitions and published a five-year plan for the development on new satellites, spacecraft and a space station.
The lunar mission is expected to be complete by 2020 but according to the Chinese government new technological breakthroughs in human space flight will be achieved by 2016.
China aims to complete its first space station in the same year, a target encouraged by the successful mission to dock two unmanned spacecraft in orbit last month.
No nation has embarked on a lunar mission since December 1972 when American astronauts landed on the moon as part of the Apollo 17 mission.
Although the Chinese space programme is being run by the military, the Asian powerhouse insists the country has no ambitions for weapons in space.
