NEWS//China's lunar record

China's Chang'e-4 lunar probe has explored the surface of the far side of the moon since January 2019. After more than 600 Earth days on the far side of the moon, it continues its mission.  That's a remarkable lifespan considering it was designed for a three-month tour of duty. The Chang'e-4 's rover Yutu-2 (Jade Rabbit-2) is the longest-working lunar rover on the moon. It has traveled 519.29 meters.

Chang’e 4’s mission

China’s Chang’e-4 is located on the floor of the 110-mile-wide Von Kármán Crater. That crater lies within the South Pole-Aitken Basin. It is the first probe to explore the far side of the moon.

China is looking for evidence left behind by an object that created the Von Kármán Crater. The rover is searching for material thrown up in the impact, material that originated deep inside the moon. These materials will help Chinese scientists discover more about the moon’s interior make-up and origins.

Chang’e 5 mission

China plans to launch Chang'e 5 in November. It will take China a step closer to establishing a base at the moon's south pole. According to Observer, "The goal is to have a sustained robotic presence and short-term human missions there in the 2030s, while long-term human stays at the ILRS could start in 2036."

Sources: Xinhuanet, Observer, Daily Mail, LeonardDavid.com, LiveScience.com, MetroNews, YouTube (1), (2), (3)