A Chinese probe sent to the moon to bring back the first lunar samples in four decades has successfully landed, according to Beijing’s space agency.

China has poured billions into its military-run space programme, with hopes of having a crewed space station by 2022 and eventually sending humans to the moon.

The latest mission’s goal is to gather lunar rocks and soil to help scientists learn about the moon’s origins, formation and volcanic activity on its surface.

The Chang’e-5 spacecraft – named after the Chinese moon goddess – landed on the near side of the moon late on Tuesday, reported the state media agency, Xinhua, citing the China National Space Administration.

If the return journey is successful, China will be only the third country to have retrieved samples from the moon, following the US and Soviet Union in the 60s and 70s.

The probe entered the moon’s orbit on Saturday after a 112-hour journey from Earth, Xinhua said, after a rocket carried it into space from Hainan province last week.

It is to collect 2kg (4.5lbs) of surface material in a previously unexplored area known as Oceanus Procellarum (Ocean of Storms), which consists of a vast lava plain, according to the science journal Nature.

The collection will take place over the course of one lunar day – equivalent to about 14 Earth days.