The Chinese space probe „Chang’e-4“ is facing the first landing on the back of the moon. She has reached orbit today „to prepare for the first soft landing on the other side of the moon,“ official Xinhua News Agency reported, citing the space agency.
When the landing on the side facing away from the earth should take place, was not mentioned. The control center will pick the „right time“ for it. The „Chang’e-4“ is to measure, for example, the lunar terrain, determine the mineral structure of the Earth’s satellite and investigate the neutron radiation.
NASA wants to go back to the moon
China wants to catch up to the leading space powers Russia and USA by 2030. For this purpose, the construction of a dedicated manned space station is to begin next year. The People’s Republic has its own information for purely peaceful ambitions.
The US Department of Defense doubts that. The US government wants to expand its space activities. For example, the NASA space agency has announced that it will prepare for the return of astronauts to the moon from next year. Recently there was a human being in 1972.
