The Chinese Lunar Exploration Program (CLEP), also known as the Chang’e Project, is an ongoing series of robotic Moon missions by the China National Space Administration (CNSA). The program incorporates lunar orbiters, landers, rovers and sample return spacecraft, launched using Long March rockets. Launches and flights are monitored by a telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) system, which uses 50-meter radio antennas in Beijing and 40-meter antennas in Kunming, Shanghai, and Ürümqi to form a 3,000-kilometer VLBI antenna.
CLEP Phases
Lunar Orbital Missions
Lunar Soft Landers / Rovers
Lunar Sample Return Missions
Lunar Robotic Research Station
Crewed Lunar Missions
International Moon Base
CLEP Missions
October 24, 2007
Chang’e-1
Chang’e 1 launched on October 24, 2007 and scanned the entire Moon in detail, generating a high definition 3D map that would provide a reference for future soft landings. The probe also mapped the abundance and distribution of various chemical elements on the lunar surface as part of an evaluation of potentially useful resources.
October 1, 2010
Chang’e-2
Chang’e 2 was launched on October 1, 2010. The probe mapped the Moon in even greater detail.
December 2, 2013
Chang’e-3 and Yutu-1
Chang’e 3 was launched on December 2, 2013 and landed on the Moon on December 14, 2013. It carried with it a 140 kilograms lunar rover named Yutu, which was designed to explore an area of 3 square kilometers during a 3-month mission.
October 23, 2014
Chang’e-5-T1
Chang’e 5-T1 was launched on October 23, 2014. It was designed to test the lunar return spacecraft to be used by Chang’e-5.
May 20, 2018
Queqiao
Queqiao relay satellite, also known as the Chang’e 4 Relay, is a communications relay and radio astronomy satellite for the Chang’e 4 lunar farside mission. The Quegiao relay satellite was launched on May 20, 2018 to a halo orbit around the Earth-Moon L2 Lagrangian point.
December 7, 2018
Chang’e-4 and Yutu-2
Chang’e 4 was launched on December 7, 2018. The probe was originally scheduled for 2015 and was a back-up for Chang’e 3. However, as a result of the success of that mission, the configuration of Chang’e 4 was adjusted for the next mission. It landed on January 3, 2019 on the South Pole-Aitken Basin, on the far side of the Moon, and deployed the Yutu-2 rover.
November 23, 2020
Chang’e-5
Chang’e 5 was launched on November 23, 2020. The probe landed near Mons Rümker on the Moon on December 1, 2020, and returned to Earth with 2 kilograms of lunar soil on December 16, 2020.
2024E
Chang’e-6
Chang’e 6 will investigate the topography, composition and subsurface structure of the South Pole-Aitken basin. The mission will return samples to Earth.
2030E
Crewed Lunar Landing
China is currently working on plans and required technologies for a crewed lunar landing.
2035E
International Lunar Research Station
The International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) is a planned lunar base currently being developed by Roscosmos and CNSA. The ILRS will serve as a scientific experiment base built on the lunar surface or in lunar orbit that can carry out scientific research activities including exploration and utilization, lunar-based observation, basic scientific experiment and technical verification, and long-term autonomous operation. Statements from Roscosmos and CNSA emphasize that the project will be “open to all interested countries and international partners.”
