China is preparing for the launch of a lunar probe on Friday from its Wenchang launch center in Hainan province. This mission aims to land on the far side of the moon, collect samples, and provide insights into geological differences between the far side and the better-known near side.
This mission is a significant step in China's space exploration program, which is increasingly challenging the U.S.'s dominance in space. In 2019, China made history by landing a rover on the moon's far side, a milestone no other country had achieved. The far side's unique environment, shielded from Earth's influence, offers ideal conditions for scientific research such as radio astronomy.
The lunar exploration probe, named after the Chinese moon goddess Chang’e, will be carried by a Long March-5 YB rocket. The launch window is between 5-6 p.m., with liftoff targeted for 5:27 p.m.
China has been steadily advancing its space program. In 2020, it retrieved samples from the moon's near side, discovering water in tiny beads within lunar dirt. Additionally, Chinese astronauts recently returned from a six-month mission on the country's orbiting space station, which was launched to compete with the International Space Station (ISS).
Looking ahead, China aims to land astronauts on the moon by 2030, retrieve samples from Mars, and conduct three lunar probe missions in the next four years. They also plan to establish a permanent crewed base on the moon. Despite these ambitions, the U.S. still maintains a lead in space technology and spending.
Meanwhile, the U.S. is planning its own crewed missions, with a goal to return astronauts to the lunar surface by the end of 2025. This effort includes collaborations with private sector companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin. Their target landing site is the moon's south pole, believed to hold vast reserves of frozen water.