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 .
moon goddess ' e-1 ends its 16-month mission with controlled collision on moon surface . Xinhua news agency : Second stage involves sending Third probe to practice soft landings . Second stage involves landing of rover . the United States becomes only third nation to send manned spacecraft into orbit .