By Zhang Youlv (China Daily 09/29/2008)--A manned lunar   landing is China's next target when the current three-stage space program ends in the next dacade. "When our manned space program is completed, we will travel even further," Wang Zhaoyao, deputy head of China's manned space program office and Shenzhou VII mission spokesman, told a briefing in Beijing three hours after China's third manned space mission was successfully concluded yesterday. "After comprehensively analyzing the general trend of the international development of manned space, as well as realities in China, we see a manned lunar landing as a both challenging and tactical   field in global hi-tech," he said. "We believe it necessary for our country to do something in this field," Wang said. He did not give a specific  date for a moon landing. Wang, however, said, "Experts believe this is 'very much needed' for research into relevant (closely connected) technologies to further China's achievements in space." The 68-hour Shenzhou VII mission featured a 25-minute spacewalk on Saturday. It was broadcast live and watched by millions throughout the country. The crew's landing at a site in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region was also carried live by national television. The entire mission was pronounced a complete success. Wang said the three astronauts, were transported to Hohhot, the region's capital, and would spend the evening there. "They will return to Beijing this morning," he said. "During the course of the mission, Russian experts provided strong technical support for the EVA spacesuits. The successful Sino-Russian cooperation for this flight created beneficial conditions for more intensive cooperation between the two sides in the future," Wang said. The mission's success has paved the way for completing the second stage of the program--building a space station before 2020. Before that, a space lab will be set up in 2010 with Shenzhou X, the country's next full-crew space journey. When will China's spaceship land on the moon?
2020. 2010. 2018. No specific date.