China Lands Spacecraft on Dark Side of the Moon

China has become the first nation to land a spacecraft on the dark side of the moon.

The lander has placed a moon rover on the surface and has already broadcast the first images of the dark side of the moon, from the ground. The Chinese launched a satellite earlier in the year so the lander could send signals back to the earth.

This is the second craft the Chinese have landed on the moon and they have plans to land another craft soon, which will return samples to the earth. Also, the Chinese plan to use either this lander or the next one scheduled to land on the moon later this year, to search the further reaches of outer space, because the far side of the moon has less electronic "noise" that interferes with clear reception.