Exploring Far Side of Moon: Chang'e-4: A milestone in China's space ambitions
Updated 10:10, 06-Jan-2019
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Chang'e-4 is a new step in China's lunar exploration mission that aims to achieve the first soft-landing on the far side of the moon. The mission is a breakthrough in China's ability to explore outer space. CGTN reporter Ning Hong has more.
It is an ambitious plan, to land a probe on the far side of the moon. But China's moon exploration goals are beginning to be realized.
WU WEIREN, CHIEF DESIGNERTHIRD PHASE LUNAR EXPLORATION CHINA NATIONAL SPACE ADMINISTRATION "Chinese people have always placed hopes and dreams on the moon. Going there is a realization of a thousand-year long dream."
China's moon exploration started back in 2004. The name of the project is based on a widely known folk tale in China: The story of Chang'e, the Chinese goddess of the Moon. The project was divided into three phases: Circle, Land and Return. In 2013, the Chang'e-3 landed on the moon. But The Chang'e-4 probe was given an even more challenging mission: to reach the far side.
WU WEIREN, CHIEF DESIGNER THIRD PHASE LUNAR EXPLORATION CHINA NATIONAL SPACE ADMINISTRATION "It is of human nature to explore unknown places in the world. It is also the underlying impetus for the development of science and technology. That's why we chose to go to the far side of the moon among all the choices we had, even if it means we will face more challenges."
Although there have been images of the far side of the moon, no landing has taken place there.
SUN ZEZHOU CHIEF DESIGNER OF CHANG'E-4 PROBECHINA NATIONAL SPACE ADMINISTRATION "First, the landing will be relatively more difficult on the far side of the moon, and second, there must be a relay of communication. These are the two main reasons why there hasn't been such an attempt before."
To address the challenges, China launched a relay satellite, the Queqiao, in May last year. The satellite is now orbiting the Moon, working as a relay between the lander and its controller on earth. Years of efforts have been made to prepare the probe for unknown challenges it may face up in the orbit.
WU WEIREN, CHIEF DESIGNER THIRD PHASE LUNAR EXPLORATION, CHINA NATIONAL SPACE ADMINISTRATION "If our moon exploration efforts are successful, and if we are accomplishing more, then our efforts will also be a contribution to humanity. It is also a great lift to our capabilities in space exploration. So I think our moon exploration endeavors will not stop, instead, they will continue with great devotion and long-term plans."
It has only been a decade since the moon exploration project began in China. The achievements that have been made so far have also carried the dreams of a generation of young space scientists and engineers. And for them, the path ahead for China's space exploration is at last becoming wider and clearer. Ning Hong, CGTN, Beijing.