China’s mission to Moon’s dark side

China’s Chang’e-4 will be the first spacecraft ever to land on the far side of the Moon. The mission will test plant growth and listen for radio emissions normally blocked by the Earth’s atmosphere


Lander: Dutch and Chinese low-frequency radio spectrometers (LFS) on lander and relay satellite will measure radiation to reveal universe’s “dark age” – first few hundred million years of our cosmos following Big Bang

Relay satellite: Because Moon’s far side never faces Earth, mission control is using satellite to act as relay station for communications with lander and rover

Neutron dosimeter: German lunar neutron and radiation dose detector will measure radiation levels – crucial for long-term human occupation

Biosphere experiment: Lander carries 3kg canister containing seeds and silkworm eggs to try to
grow food

Landing site: Moon’s south pole – where some craters hide water ice in permanent shadows – is ideal spot to build human outpost

Rover: Will analyse surface mineral composition using visible and near-infrared spectrometer.
Interaction of solar wind with lunar surface will be measured by Swedish-designed Advanced Small
Analyzer for Neutrals


Three 5-metre booms for LFS

Lander also carries landing camera and terrain camera

Panoramic camera


Sources: Chinese Academy of Sciences, Swedish Institute of Space Physics
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