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RESTRICTIONS: Broadcast: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN Digital: NO USE JAPAN, NO USE TAIWAN Beijing plans to build a research station on the moon in the next 10 years, according to Chinese state media outlet China Daily The facility is planned to be placed near the moon's south pole region where it will be used to conduct scientific research.

Zhang Kejian, the head of the China National Space Administration, made the announcement on China's fourth annual Space Day, on April 24th.

China's other space exploration plans include a mission to launch a Mars probe by 2020 and the lunar probe Chang'e-5 by the end of this year.

China also announced that its space station, the Tiangong, is set to go into orbit in the year 2022.

According to AFP, China now spends more on its space program than Russia and Japan, and is second only to the US.

RUNDOWN SHOWS: 1.

Chinese flag, research station, moon in space 2.

Where the research station will be located on the moon 3.

China's other space exploration plan 4.

The Chinese space station VOICEOVER (in English): "According to Chinese state media outlet China Daily, Beijing plans to build a research station on the moon in the next 10 years." "The facility is planned to be placed near the moon's south pole region where it will be used to conduct scientific research." "China's other space exploration plans include a mission to launch a Mars probe by 2020 and the lunar probe Chang'e-5 by the end of this year." "China also announced that its space station, the Tiangong, is set to go into orbit in the year 2022." SOURCES: Live Science, Phys.org, China Daily, The Straits Times via AFP, https://www.livescience.com/65312-china-moon-base-10-years.html https://phys.org/news/2019-04-china-moon-station-years.html http://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201904/25/WS5cc104eaa3104842260b8325.html https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/china-to-build-moon-station-in-about-10-years-state-media *** For story suggestions please contact tips@nextanimation.com.tw For technical and editorial support, please contact: Asia: +61 2 93 73 1841 Europe: +44 20 7542 7599 Americas and Latam: +1 800 738 8377