China's ambitious space program Chang'e heads to the moon and back
China is to launch its first recoverable moon orbiter later this year as the latest step in its ambitious space programme.
The government has announced that the mission will travel to the moon before returning to earth.
The State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence (SASTIND) says the orbiter will test technology to be used for the Chang'e 5 mission which aims to gather samples from the moon's surface.
Commentators say Beijing sees its multi-billion-dollar space programme as a marker of its rising global stature and mounting technical expertise, as well as evidence of the ruling Communist Party's success in turning around the fortunes of the once poverty-stricken nation.
SASTIND says the moon orbiter has been transported to the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in the southwestern province of Sichuan to prepare for the launch.
In Chinese mythology, Chang'e is the goddess of the moon who lives in a palace with her pet Yutu, a jade rabbit.
The country's moon rover that was launched late last year as part of the Chang'e 3 lunar mission, was named after the pet.
At the time, China declared that mission a "complete success" but mechanical problems have plagued Yutu and it was reported in May that the rover was gradually becoming "weakened".
Chinese state media says the Chang'e 5 mission will be more sophisticated and its technological challenges include taking off from the moon's surface, rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit, and high-speed Earth re-entry.
The military-run project has plans for a permanent orbiting station by 2020 and, eventually, to send a human to the moon.
Two years ago, a chief scientist told state media that China planned to collect samples from the surface of Mars by 2030.