The People’s Republic of China announced on Friday that it is set to launch its second lunar probe in October next year and a manned space mission in 2017.

The second lunar mission, called Chang’e 2, is a much improved version of the first probe, Chang’e 1, which orbited the moon in March this year.

The China Daily said Chang’e 2 will orbit closer to the surface of the moon and will carry a higher resolution camera.

A third mission is on the works for 2015. China is planning the next Chang’e to be able to land on the moon to collect rock samples and return these back to earth.

Mars is also included in their space exploration itinerary.

Like the other Asian countries such as South Korea and India, China is focused on improving its space program for knowledge, and not military, purposes.

In 2003, China joined the US and Russia in the group of countries which has successfully launched a person into orbit, with Yang Liwei as the first Chinese in space.