In the next five years, China will continue to enhance the basic capacities of its space industry, and strengthen research into key and cutting-edge technologies. As of the 27th of December, China announced that it will launch a lunar probe in 2018 to achieve the world’s first soft landing on the far side of the moon to showcase its ambitious space programme.

China has already landed a rover on the moon in the past but wants to explore the dark side of the lunar surface to carve out a niche for itself as it has not been done by other countries.

China will continue its lunar exploration project in the next five years, and strive to attain the automated extra-terrestrial sampling and returning technology by space explorers, a White Paper titled ‘China’s Space Activities in 2016’ released said.

“The lunar probe Chang’e-4 will conduct in situ and roving detection and relay communications at earth-moon L2 point,” the white paper said.

The probe plans to fulfil the three strategic steps of “orbiting, landing and returning” for the lunar exploration project by launching the Chang’e-5 lunar probe by the end of 2017 and realising regional soft landing, sampling and return, it said.

“Geological survey and research as well as low-frequency radio astronomy observation and research will be carried out targeting the landing area on the far side of the moon for a better understanding of the formation and evolution of the moon,” it added.

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Author: Technology Vista