(Yicai Global) Jan. 30 -- China will send a  Chang'e-5 lunar probe to the moon this year to bring back samples,  according to a blue paper released yesterday.

China Aerospace Science and Technology Cooperation  will use a Long March-5 carrier rocket to send the probe to the natural  satellite, Yang Baohua, vice president of the state-owned space  explorer, said in a press conference yesterday. 

To ensure a successful mission, CASC plans to  conduct a test-run of the rocket in July, marking its third mission. It  previously malfunctioned six minutes after liftoff in a test in July  2017. 

The space industry contractor will also hold joint  tests and exercises at the end of 2019 to make preparations for the  maiden flight of the Long March-5B, which will lay the groundwork for  the construction of a space station, said Shang Zhi, director of CASC's  space department.

The Long March-5B rocket features a low-Earth orbit  carrying capacity of more than 22 tons and will be used to launch core  and experimental modules of China's space station in the future.

China will send over 50 spacecraft into space this year through 30 launches, according to the blue paper.