China's plan to launch astronauts to the moon has taken a major step forward.

The country subjected its "Lanyue" two-person lunar lander to a comprehensive landing and takeoff verification test this week at a unique facility in Huailai County, in northern China's Hebei Province.

Lanyue, whose name means "embracing the moon," is a crew-carrying lunar descent and ascent vehicle that's being developed for China's first human lunar exploration mission, which is slated to occur before 2030.

Key step

The test, completed on Aug. 6, represents a key step in the development of China's human lunar exploration program. It marked the first time that China has carried out a trial for the off-Earth landing and takeoff of a crew-carrying spacecraft, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

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