In what has been termed a “controlled collision”, China’s Chang’e 1 lunar satellite hit the moon’s surface.
The probe was launched into space on one of China’s Long March 3A rockets to map the moon’s surface using stereo radar.
The probe was under the remote control of two stations in Qingda in eastern China and Kashgar in China’s north west.
The crashing of the probe represents just another step in China’s ever expanding space programme.
China aims to put its first space station into orbit next year to carry out the nation’s first space docking.
The 8.5 tonne module Tiangong-1 will provide a ‘safe room’ where Chinese astronauts can live and conduct scientific research at zero gravity.
By John Kennedy
Pictured: China’s Chang’e 1 lunar satellite
