The service module of China’s unmanned test lunar orbiter began orbiting the moon on Tuesday, state-run Xinhua news reported.br br The service module is currently flying in a 127-minute orbit at an altitude of 200 km above the moon’s surface. br br The module completed three circles around the second Lagrange point, or earth-moon L2, and left for lunar orbit on January 4. br br The module is collecting data for China’s Chang’e-5 lunar mission to be launched in 2017.br br Chang’e-5 is expected to make a soft landing on the moon and collect at least 2 kg of rock and soil samples. If the mission succeeds, China would become the third country to complete such a mission after the United States and Russia.br br China is reportedly looking to mine the moon for helium-3, a rare helium isotope that could be used to power clean fusion plants, according to a report in the International Business Times.br br br ----------------------------------------­---------------------br br Welcome to TomoNews, where we animate the most entertaining news on the internets. Come here for an animated look at viral headlines, US news, celebrity gossip, salacious scandals, dumb criminals and much more! Subscribe now for daily news animations that will knock your socks off.