The second step of China's lunar probe project, Chang'e-2, will be launched at the end of 2010. After China's first phase of the project impacted the moon's surface on March 1st, Chinese scientists are working on further exploration of the moon.

Between October 2007 and March 2010, the Chang'e-1 spacecraft circled the moon for nearly 18 months. The Chang'e-1 completed several missions and collected an enormous amount of data. Chinese scientists will study the data collected for a year and then release their findings to the world.

The first step of the country's lunar probe project has been a success. Scientists are now busy working on the second phase of the project, which is composed of Chang'e-2 and Chang'e-3. The three stages are, "orbiting", "landing" and "returning".

China plans to launch Chang'e-2 at the end of this year. The design and production of the probe is completed, and the lunar obiter is undergoing ground tests. Though Chang'e-2 is the backup to Chang'e-1, it has gone through technical upgrades for its new mission. Chang'e-2 is undergoing "match-up and drills" and everything has gone well. Tests will be carried out during Chang'e-2's mission to prepare for the lunar landing.

Chinese space experts say Chang'e-3, China's first lunar landing, is scheduled to be launched before 2013. Currently, work on Chang'e-3 has gone beyond the planning stage and the machinery is now in the prototype stage. Scientists hope the Chang'e-3 project will let them study the internal structure of the moon and, ultimately, they want to build an observatory on the surface.

The third phase will see China send a spacecraft to the moon to collect samples and return. That project is slated for before 2017. Experts say only after all these steps are successfully accomplished, will it be possible to carry out a manned moon landing, which is expected to be achieved between 2025 and 2030.

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