Why are the Chinese landing spacecraft on the far side of the moon?

June 2nd 2024, China landed an uncrewed spacecraft on the far side of the moon on Sunday, overcoming a key hurdle in its landmark mission to retrieve the world’s first rock and soil samples from the dark lunar hemisphere.

The landing elevates China’s space power status in a global rush to the moon, where countries including the United States are hoping to exploit lunar minerals to sustain long-term astronaut missions and moon bases within the next decade.

In a past mission, China’s Chang’e 4 mission made the historic landing on the far side of the Moon on January 3, 2019. This mission was the first-ever soft landing on the far side of the Moon and included a rover called Yutu-2, which has been conducting scientific observations and exploring the lunar surface since then.

China’s interest in landing on the far side of the Moon, also known as the dark side, is driven by several factors. One primary reason is the scientific curiosity to explore a region that is relatively unexplored compared to the near side. The far side offers a unique perspective of the Moon’s geological history and could provide insights into the early solar system’s evolution.

Another reason is the potential for scientific experiments that require shielding from Earth’s radio frequency interference. The far side of the Moon is shielded from radio signals from Earth, making it an ideal location for radio astronomy and other scientific studies.

Additionally, landing on the far side allows China to demonstrate its technological capabilities in space exploration and establish itself as a major player in space exploration alongside other leading nations. It also serves as a source of national pride and a way to inspire interest in science and technology among the Chinese population.

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