Science

Eugene

(61,896 posts) Fri Dec 7, 2018, 04:34 PM Dec 2018

Chang'e-4: China mission launches to far side of Moon

Source: BBC

Chang'e-4: China mission launches to far side of Moon

By Paul Rincon
Science editor, BBC News website

7 December 2018

China has launched the first mission to land a robotic craft on the far side of the Moon, Chinese media say.

The Chang'e-4 mission will see a static lander and rover touch down in Von Kármán crater, located on the side of the Moon which never faces Earth.

The payload blasted off atop a Long March 3B rocket from Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

The mission will pave the way for the country to deliver samples of Moon rock and soil to Earth.

The landing will not occur until early January, when the probe will descend on thrusters and touch down on the rugged terrain of the lunar far side.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-46471668

Artwork: The Chang'e-4 rover will explore a huge impact basin on the far side

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Chang'e-4: China mission launches to far side of Moon (Original Post) Eugene Dec 2018 OP

Radio Telescope! CloudWatcher Dec 2018 #1

CloudWatcher

(1,848 posts)

1. Radio Telescope!

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Sat Dec 8, 2018, 10:49 PM

Dec 2018

The mission will also characterise the "radio environment" on the far side, a test designed to lay the groundwork for the creation of future radio astronomy telescopes on the far side, which is shielded from the radio noise of Earth.

As far as I can tell, putting a radio telescope on the far-side of the moon is still the best reason to go back!

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