BEIJING, China (CNN) -- China's first lunar probe landed on the moon in a controlled collision Sunday, marking the first phase of the nation's three-stage moon mission, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The second stage involves sending a second probe to practice soft landings, the Xinhua news agency said. The mission will culminate with the launch and landing of a rover on the moon to collect mineral samples in 2012. The probe -- Chang'e-1, named after a legendary moon goddess -- launched into space 16 months ago on October 24, 2007. China became only the third nation, after the United States and Russia, to send a manned spacecraft into orbit. It did so in October 2003.
Chang'e-1 ends its 16-month mission with controlled collision on moon surface . Xinhua: Second stage involves sending second probe to practice soft landings . Third stage involves landing of rover . China becomes only third nation to send manned spacecraft into orbit .