China lifts off in pioneering journey to the far side of the moon
A team of Chinese scientists aims to have a rover exploring the largely unknown lunar terrain later this year
China has launched a satellite in its mission to this year become the first country to explore the far side of the moon.
The Queqiao relay satellite and its carrier, a Long March 4C rocket, lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in southwestern China’s Sichuan province at about 5.28am on Monday, according to the China National Space Administration.
The satellite split from the rocket after 25 minutes and unfolded its solar panels and communication antennas as it headed towards its orbit, the administration said.
“The launch is a key step for China to realise its goal of being the first country to send a probe to soft-land on and rove the far side of the moon,” Zhang Lihua, head of the relay satellite project, was quoted as saying by Xinhua.
The administration said the Queqiao – or “Magpie Bridge” – would relay communications between controllers on the Earth and a lander on the far side of the moon, where the Chang’e 4 lunar probe – named after the moon goddess in Chinese mythology – would be sent later this year.