China spacecraft on far side of
the moon, credit to NASA
China successfully land its
spacecraft (Chang’e 4) on the far side or dark side of the moon
before Christmas, on December 8, 2018. Become the first country to
have this achievement.
Yes, Russia (former the
Soviet Union)
spacecraft, Luna 2
(Lunik 2) did the first landing on the moon on September 14, 1959.
Then, USA with Apollo 11 is the first country sent human being to the
moon on July 20, 1969.
The different that both the
Soviet Union and the USA arrived on the near side (face earth) of the
moon. Whereas China is the first ever country landing on the far side
of the moon. The
dark side is believed to have more craters than near side.
Can
we conclude that China is leading in space race? Off
course
not or may
be not
yet. China
still far behind compare to USA and even European countries in term
of visiting
planets such as Mars, Jupiter,
Saturn,
Uranus,
Neptune
and Venus, and other space objects (Asteroid Eros, Saturn's
Moon, Comet 9P/Tempel 1 and
Asteroid
Itokawa).
At
least, now, we have a new player in space race. Hope, will be benefit
to science and technology of
the space
development, then to human well being at
near future.
