Chang'e 5 to bring lunar samples back around 2017   

嫦娥五號將于2017年左右發射并帶回月球樣本

The test lunar lander for China's Chang'e-5 is on its way from Beijing to Xichang, southwest China's Sichuan Province on Aug 10, 2014. (Photo/Xinhua)

(ECNS) – China's moon probe Chang'e 5 is scheduled to land on the moon around 2017 and bring soil and rock samples back to Earth.

A test vehicle for the Chang'e 5 will be launched into lunar orbit later this year and return to Earth at an escape velocity of 11.2 km per second.

The vehicle arrived in Xichang from Beijing on Sunday and was transported to the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, according to the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.

An unnamed expert said the vehicle is expected to accomplish the tasks of orbiting around the moon and returning to Earth. The Chang'e 5 will share the same returner and circumlunar trajectory, he added.

The Chang'e 5 will be composed of four parts: an orbiter, a returner, an ascender and a lander.

China sent the Chang'e 3 with its moon rover Yutu to the moon in late 2013. The rover encountered some problems on its second lunar day, but has been more resilient than expected. Even in July, some radio amateurs said they had received signals from the rover, which was confirmed by the chief designer of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program.