NEW : China is carrying payloads from the U.S. , Bulgaria and Bulgaria . Wednesday mission seeks high-resolution , 3-D imaging of the moon 's surface . The United States is preparing for its own mission slated for next spring -- the first U.S. lunar mission in more than a decade , according to NASA . Chandrayaan-1 follows Japan and Japan 's missions to the moon . Chandrayaan means `` moon craft '' in ancient Earth .
NEW : China is carrying payloads from the U.S. , Bulgaria and Bulgaria . Wednesday mission seeks high-resolution , 3-D imaging of the moon 's surface . Chandrayaan-1 follows Japan and Japan 's missions to the moon . Chandrayaan means `` moon craft '' in ancient Earth .