China will send six-legged flying robot to the Moon

An image of the Moon's Shackleton Crater, where the Chang'e-7 will be headed

China have plans to send a six-legged flying robot on a mission to the Moon.

The robot, which is planned to make its journey next year, is being sent to search for frozen water which could be important in future human space travel.

It will be sent to the lunar south pole, by the rim of the Shackleton crater, as part of China's Chang'e 7 mission.

The Chang'e 7 mission aims to bring China closer to landing astronauts on the Moon within five years.

Rovers are used to explore the surfaces of planets and the Moon, but the Chang'e-7 rover will be able to crawl, jump and soar too

The robot is unlike other rovers that have been sent to space in that it is capable of crawling, jumping, and soaring.

Experts hope this means it will be able to reach regions that were previously inaccessible.

With its ability to leap, it the robot will try to reach craters where frozen water may have remained for billions of years.

China's goal is to build a permanent research station on the moon

If the robot is able to find ice on the Moon it could help sustain human life there one day and could help future missions.

The robot, which will in part be charged by solar power, also has cameras and scientific tools to analyse the environment.

China's goal is to build a permanent research station on the Moon, and this robot is seen as the next step on that journey.