The historic landing of a Chinese space probe on the moon is an important stage of the Russian—Chinese lunar program, Bloomberg reports.

The Chinese space probe Chang’e-6 has successfully landed on the Moon near the South Pole. This is the world’s first attempt to collect samples from the far side of the moon and deliver them to Earth.

Bloomberg emphasizes that just a few days ago, the Russian State Duma ratified an agreement with China on cooperation in a joint project to create a permanent base – an International lunar Research Station – near the South Pole.

It is planned to find water ice at the landing site, a resource that can potentially be used to produce oxygen and rocket fuel for long—term human habitation on the Moon.

The mission, which started on May 6, is expected to last about 53 days. Chang’e-6 is part of a series of missions that will culminate in humans traveling to the moon before the end of the decade.