China's moon dreams will serve humanity

Chinese have dreamed of travelling to the moon since ancient times. In a mere nine days - science, technology and fortunes pending - that desire will move a tantalising step closer with the soft landing on the lunar surface of the Chang'e-3 probe. At that moment, there will be an immense sense of national achievement, but the mission is not merely about pride. What it accomplishes and teaches has the potential to benefit all of humanity.

A successful touchdown of the four-legged probe on the moon's unexplored Bay of Rainbows basaltic lava plain is only a small part of the mission. Its cargo, the six-wheeled Yutu rover, then has to be launched down a ramp and several months of surveying and remote communicating will follow. Coming on the 10th anniversary of the nation's first manned space flight, the mission is the second of a three-stage lunar programme that involves orbiting, landing and returning geological samples to earth by 2020. By the second half of the next decade, scientists hope that the dream of Chinese setting foot on the lunar surface will have been realised.

China's lunar programme has made great leaps in a short space of time; it was launched just 15 years ago. Despite that, the nation is a latecomer to the moon, with the former Soviet Union having landed the first probe in 1966 and Americans setting foot on the surface three years later. But the last manned mission was in 1972 and no probe has returned since 1976, leaving great scope for a fresh look and testing of the latest scientific thinking and technologies. There is also the romance of Chinese mythology. The probe is named after the goddess of the moon and the rover after her pet white rabbit.

Exploring the moon can reap China great benefits. Knowing more about our nearest neighbour and beyond teaches us about the origins and evolution of earth. It requires many advanced and different technologies, and builds and hones scientific talent. There is also the possibility of finding resources like minerals and metals that will improve life at home.

Space has long been a means for nations to show their might and prowess - but going there is also expensive. Beijing is adamant that its lunar dreams and missions to deep space are about discovery, not competition. Its pledged co-operation with other space-faring nations on the Chang'e-3 voyage, through working together and sharing research, has to be realised. China will benefit, but so, too, will humanity.