China Plans First Ever Landing on the Dark Side of the Moon

[Jesus Malverde]

The closest extraterrestrial body, the moon has done much to shape our history and mythologies. It’s been associated with Artemis and Greek conceptions of rebirth. It’s also connected with Chang’e, the Chinese goddess of the moon.

Hence the name of China’s latest probe, the Chang’e-4. The mission, part of China’s Lunar Exploration Program (CLEP), plans to land the probe and accompanying rover on the far side of the moon.

"We are currently discussing the next moon landing site for Chang’e 4," Chief lunar exploration engineer Wu Weiren told China Central Television. "We probably will choose a site that is more difficult to land and more technically challenging. Other countries have chosen to land on the near side of the moon. Our next move probably will see some spacecraft land on the far side of the moon."

The Chang’e-4 will follow the Chang’e-3, a probe launched in 2013, which carried the Jade Rabbit rover to the lunar surface. Though currently immobile, Jade Rabbit still transmits data back to Earth, and Chang’e-4 would take on a different scientific role.


Read more: http://sputniknews.com/science/20150519/1022336534.html#ixzz3aeZTJ5mr

[DJ13]

1. Good Times

[Oilwellian]

2. Pink Floyd beat them to it n/t

[bluesbassman]

3. Not to be outdone, Korea's Kim Jong-un announced that Korea will send a space craft to the sun.

After making his announcement, the scientific community scoffed, and informed him that the craft would burn up before it could land. Jong-un responded by stating: "We are not stupid, we plan to land there at night".

[Jesus Malverde]

5. DUZY

[Quackers]

4. We'll finally get to see what the Decepticons are up to. nt

[Warren DeMontague]

6. Since everyone already beat me to the Pink Floyd references, let me say this:

I think it's a great idea, I wish the Chinese luck with it. I'm wondering how they plan to communicate with the lander- assuming it's all the way on the other side, presumably they'll need to stick at least one communications satellite/probe in lunar orbit to relay back and forth to and from Earth.

I know that when NASA had their original plans for the Apollo landings to follow 17 (which ended up being the last one) at least one mission was slated to land on the far side of the Moon. The proposal was to carry along 3 small communications satellites in the SM to deploy in lunar orbit, to allow the astronauts on the far side of the moon to be in constant communication with Earth.

[Jesus Malverde]

7. Then they decided to BOMB THE MOON!

It's possible this might inspire NASA to do great things again.