China Sets Goal to Open Moon Base in 10 Years

China is looking to open a base on the Moon within 10 years, according to a new report.

Three and a half months after it landed a robotic rover on the dark side of the moon, China is now looking to take space exploration to the next level.

Xinhua news reported that Zhang Kejian, who leads the China National Space Administration, declared this week that the communist country wants to open a scientific research station in the moon's south polar region and put humans on the celestial body in 10 years.

Kejian also confirmed that China will launch a probe to Mars next year.

China first launched a rocket into space on April 24, 1970. For the last three years, according to Xinhua, April 24 has served as China's Space Day.

In January, China landed an unmanned spacecraft on the moon. A robotic rover has been exploring the surface ever since.

For a brief period after the landing, the Chinese were able to grow cottonseed, rapeseed, and potato sprouts. The experiment was terminated because of cold temperatures.

Last month, Vice President Mike Pence called on NASA to put humans back on the moon in five years.

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