China says its lunar probe has landed on the Moon

An unmanned Chinese spacecraft has landed on the Moon, state media reported, marking only the second time the country has successfully placed a probe on the lunar surface. The Chang’e-5 spacecraft “landed on the near side of the moon late Tuesday,” the Xinhua report said, citing the China National Space Administration. China has poured billions into its military-run space programme, with hopes of having a crewed space station by 2022 and of eventually sending humans to the Moon. The mission’s goal is to shovel up lunar rocks and soil to help scientists learn about the Moon’s origins, formation and volcanic…