definitely very significant that they're launching their first lunar probe. they're going to put this buggy on the ground, on the surface of the moon. they hope sometime in december. the jade rabbit will do some investigations on the lunar surface. certainly it is a big deal for china in terms of pride and the latest move in a very accelerating space race. >> what can you tell us about whether the space probe is a threat to the united states. this is coming on a day when they're putting an aircraft carrier to confront the u.s. because the u.s. flew some b-52 bombers over what china believes it's territory. >> reporter: they have gone from putting the first out in space and they hope to put a space station and even put an astronaut on the moon by the end of the decade. they're certainly taking this very seriously. it is a point. national pride here in china. the chinese say it is nothing to do with any conflict that this is a peaceful process, they want