If China lands on far side of moon, that would be a first for mankind
China will send a probe to land on the far side of the moon in 2018, China鈥檚 state media Xinhua confirmed Thursday, in what will be a first for mankind.
The plan demonstrates a renewed drive in China鈥檚 space exploration focusing on the moon, and it is a departure from past missions, which often replicated accomplishments of the US or Russian space programs.
The probe, named Chang鈥檈-4, after the goddess of the moon in Chinese mythology, will explore the half of the moon never visible from Earth, and never explored by humans.
鈥淐hang'e-4 will be the to embark on this expedition,鈥� said Liu Jizhong, chief of the lunar exploration center under China's State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, according to Xinhua news agency.
The far side of the moon was first photographed in 1959 by the Soviet Luna 3 mission. NASA's Apollo 8 astronauts were the first people to see it with their own eyes, in 1968. The crew also captured the .
China鈥檚 Chang鈥檈-3 mission in 2013 landed the Yutu, or Jade Rabbit, rover on the Earth-facing side of the moon. The following year, a probe successfully completed a return mission.
鈥淭he implementation of the Chang鈥檈-4 mission has helped our country in the field of lunar exploration,鈥� Liu said.
China regards its multi-billion dollar space program as a reflection of its rising global prowess and technical expertise, as well as an important manifestation of the Communist Party鈥檚 modernization of the country, notes The Guardian.
Nonetheless, China鈥檚 space agency engages with other programs around the world. The Chinese are currently collaborating with India, Russia, and the European Space Agency, Clive Neal, professor of geology at the University of Notre Dame and chair of the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group, tells 海角大神 in an interview.
With regard to the United States and China working together in space, he says, 鈥淚 understand that China is open to international cooperation, but current US law prevents NASA from being involved.鈥�
Certainly, the fact that the Chinese space program is run by the military is cause for concern in some corners, even though China insists its space program is entirely peaceful.
鈥淐hina鈥檚 aspirations are driven by its assessment that and would allow it to challenge US information superiority during a conflict,鈥� states the 2015 Report to Congress of the China-US Economic and Security Review Commission.
鈥淐hina鈥檚 rise as a space power has important national security implications for the United States, which relies on its own space capabilities to assess and monitor current and emerging threats to national security and project military power globally.鈥�
Indeed, China used a ballistic missile to in 2007. And a new kinetic interceptor appeared to be tested by the People鈥檚 Republic in 2013.
鈥淐hina continues to develop a consisting of a kinetic energy intercept capability at exo-atmospheric altitudes, as well as intercepts of ballistic missiles and other aerospace vehicles within the upper atmosphere,鈥� asserts the US Department of Defense鈥檚 Annual Report to Congress, detailing Military and Security Developments Involving the People鈥檚 Republic of China 2015.
Whatever other facets there may be to Chinese聽endeavors聽in space, there is no doubt that Chang鈥檈-4 has much to offer in the realm of science.
鈥淚 think it is fantastic!鈥� says Dr. Neal. 鈥淎 soft landing, with a rover, to explore FOR THE FIRST TIME on the surface, the far side of the Moon.鈥� 聽
鈥淭he far side is so different from the side that we see from Earth. It contains the biggest hole in the Solar System 鈥� the South Pole-Aitken basin.鈥�
