Chinese probe sent the first photos from the back of the moon

A new chapter has opened in lunar exploration: China's Chang'e-4 space probe landed safely on the far side of the Moon on its first attempt.

Photo: NASA

According to the Chinese space agency, at 10:26 am Beijing time (02:26 GMT), the device touched the lunar surface in the area of ​​one of the largest craters in the entire solar system - the South Pole-Aitken Basin.

"This is an important milestone in Chinese space exploration," said Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's lunar program.

The probe delivered to the moon the equipment with which a series of experiments and research will be carried out.

The first satellite photos have already been sent to Earth and published by the Chinese state-owned media.

Since direct communication with the probe is not possible, all the transmitted images and data are first transmitted to the satellite transponder and only then get to Earth.

For the first time in history

Chang'e-4 is a Chinese automatic interplanetary station for studying the Moon and outer space. It consists of a stationary lunar station and a lunar rover.

Built into it:

• camcorder;
• geological radar to study the lunar soil;
• infrared spectrometer for the study of minerals;
• a device for studying the effects of the solar wind on the surface of the moon.

This is the first landing in history on the far side of the moon and a huge step in the study and exploration of space.

On board the moonwalker in an airtight container are the seeds of potatoes, rapeseed, plants Rezuhovidka Tal (arabidopsis) and silkworm larvae. Scientists will check if a biosystem can exist in such conditions.

In recent years, many flights to the satellite of the Earth took place. Most missions were limited to orbit, some flew past.

The last crewed landing on the Moon was made by the Apollo 17 spacecraft in 1972.

The reverse side of the moon is often called the dark one, but in reality it is that part of the lunar surface that is not visible from Earth. The moon and the Earth rotate synchronously, so the surface of only one of the hemispheres of the satellite is visible from the Earth.

On the far side of the moon there are more craters and denser soil.

China plans in space

China seeks to become one of the leading space powers along with the United States and Russia.

In 2017, Beijing announced the preparation of a manned expedition to the moon. Next year, China plans to start building its own space station and complete it by 2022.

The BBC's correspondent in Beijing, John Sudworth, notes that until the successful landing of Chang'e 4, almost nothing was known about the preparations for this mission.

In 2003, China became the third country after the USSR and the USA, which independently launched man into space.

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