China to land astronauts on moon before 2030.

ISLAMABAD -- China plans to land astronauts on the moon before 2030, said Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), on Monday at a press conference held at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.

Lin said the mission has already started and the CMSA is working on the necessary hardware, including the research and development of a new-generation carrier rocket (Long March-10), to launch an upgraded manned spacecraft, a lunar lander and the construction of test and launch facilities and equipment. It will also involve the development of new spacesuits, China News Service reported.

"The overall goals are to realize China's first manned landing on the moon before 2030, carry out scientific exploration...