China Achieves First-Ever Soft Landing on Far Side of the Moon
China makes space exploration history by successfully landing the Chang'e 4 probe on the moon's far side. The mission relies on a relay satellite to communicate with Earth and aims to survey the largely unexplored lunar terrain.
China makes space exploration history by successfully soft-landing the Chang'e 4 probe on the far side of the moon. This milestone marks the first time any country achieves a controlled, undamaged landing on this hidden lunar surface. The probe, named after the Chinese moon goddess, touches down at a pre-selected site after launching from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in early December.
Because the moon's far side never faces Earth, direct communication with the probe is impossible. To solve this, China uses a relay satellite named Queqiao, or Magpie Bridge, which orbits far above the planet to bounce signals between the lander and mission control. The lander and rover carry instruments to conduct low-frequency radio astronomy, survey terrain, detect mineral composition, and measure neutron radiation.
This successful landing concludes the second phase of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program and opens a new chapter in lunar science. Previous missions show that the far side possesses a significantly different terrain than the familiar Earth-facing surface, making it a highly valuable target for research. With this achievement, China establishes itself as a major force in the global race to explore deep space.