China aims to be first to land on far side of moon
Updated: 2015-09-09 09:23
(Xinhua)
|
|||||||||||
The photo of the Yutu moon rover taken by the camera on the Chang'e-3 moon lander during the mutual-photograph process after the successful landing of the moon probe on the moon on Dec 15, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua] |
BEIJING - China is planning to be the first country to land a lunar probe on the far side of the moon, a Chinese lunar probe scientist said Tuesday.
The mission will be carried out by Chang'e-4, a backup probe for Chang'e-3, and is slated to be launched before 2020, said Zou Yongliao from the moon exploration department under the Chinese Academy of Sciences at a deep-space exploration forum Tuesday.
Zou said government organs have ordered experts to assess the plan over the past 12 plus months. "China will be the first to complete the task if it is successful."
The State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense announced earlier this year that Chang'e-4 will be launched before 2020.
The far side of the moon, or "dark side of the moon" as it is more commonly called, is never visible to Earth because of gravitational forces. According to Zou, the far side of the moon has a clean electromagnetic environment, which provides an ideal field for low frequency radio study. "If we can place a frequency spectrograph on the far side, we can fill a void."
Zou said Chang'e-4 is very similar to Chang'e-3 in structure but can handle more payload. It will be used to study the geological conditions of the dark side of the moon.
China plans to launch its Chang'e-5 lunar probe around 2017 to finish the last chapter in China's three-step (orbiting, landing and return) moon exploration program.
Li Chunlai, one of the main designers of the lunar probe ground application system, said Chang'e-5 will achieve several breakthroughs, including automatic sampling, ascending from the moon without a launch site and an unmanned docking 400,000 kilometers above the lunar surface.
Chang'e-5 will also have a new launch site and launch rockets, said Li.
Chang'e-3 landed on the moon in 2013, making China the third country after the Soviet Union and the United States to soft land a spacecraft on lunar soil.
Related Stories
China to launch orbiters for lunar landing in 5 yrs 2011-12-29 12:20
China's lunar orbiter gets close-up pictures of the Moon 2015-09-03 00:02
Lunar eclipse turns the moon 'blood red' 2015-04-05 06:50
Going abroad for Lunar New Year 2015-02-18 09:09
China aims to be first to land on 'dark side' of moon 2015-05-20 16:50
Today's Top News
Russian military experts present in Syria
China's consumer prices up 2% in August
Inside look at new products launched by Apple
Hungarian TV journalist fired for tripping up fleeing migrants
Queen Elizabeth 'never aspired' to become UK's longest-reigning monarch
Rolls-Royce aims to widen appeal with new convertible
'FX forwards measure is not capital control'
Queen Elizabeth II surpasses Queen Victoria's long reign
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
All eyes on China's military power |
Rural families still hope for male heirs |
Blue skies over Beijing ... for now |
V-Day parade for 70th WWII anniversary |
Tianjin blasts: Death, damage and bravery |
NE China: From powerhouse to poor relation |