China plans to send a flying robot to the far side of the moon next year to search for the frozen water that could hold the key to future lunar exploration, as the country pushes forward with its ambitious space program.

A flying robot will be China’s next tool in the search for water on the moon’s south pole. The Moon’s south pole has become a highly coveted destination for space exploration. The main attraction of the Moon’s south pole is the potential for water ice in permanently shadowed craters.