A Chinese lunar rover landed on the far side of the moon on Thursday, in a global first that boosts Beijing’s ambitions to become a space superpower. The Chang’e-4 lunar probe mission — named after the moon goddess in Chinese mythology — launched in December from the southwestern Xichang launch center. It is the second Chinese probe to land on the moon, following the Yutu (Jade Rabbit) rover mission in 2013. Unlike the near side of the moon that offers many flat areas to touch down on, the far side is mountainous and rugged. China’s previous moon rover Yutu also conquered those challenges, and, after initial setbacks, ultimately surveyed the moon’s surface for 31 months.

Source: Egypt Independent January 03, 2019 13:30 UTC