moon goddess ' e-1 ends its 16-month mission with controlled collision on moon surface . Xinhua news agency : 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 . 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 .
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 .