There seems to be no let down in China's space obsession.  It is now all set to launch a new lunar exploration project, Chang'e-5, to further widen its scientific research on earth's only natural satellite.

The project is set to be launched in 2017 and will be the third stage in China's lunar exploration endeavour, after Chang'e-1 and Chang'e-3.

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Chief Scientist of China's Lunar Exploration Project, Ouyang Ziyuan made the announcement while talking to reporters in the northern city of Tianjin.

"We are ready. Every lab is ready," he said. "Once the samples are back, we can begin our analysis right away."

Ouyang claimed the rock samples to be collected by Chang'e-5 would help the scientific community to deepen their research in evolution and formation of moon.

The top scientist also confirmed the launch of Chang'e-4, an extension of Chang'e-3, in 2018.

China's quest for lunar exploration started in 2007 with the launch of Chang'e-1, a circumlunar satellite. In 2013, China launched the second stage in its lunar exploration with Chang'e-3 satellite, which landed on surface of the moon.

China over last one decade has been devoutly focused on its space program with the clear aim to position itself as a new space superpower. Chinese government has already poured billions of dollars in this ambitious pursuit.

The report noted that 2016 has, so far, proven to be a fruitful year for China's space exploration initiat.ive It launched a space laboratory, Tiangong-2, only last month. This was soon followed by the Chinese government's go signal for the operation of the world's largest telescope in Guizhou province.

TagsChang’e 5, Chang'e-4, Chang'e-3, chinese space program, China Lunar Exploration