China makes history as the first to land a spacecraft on the far side of the moon
Lander sends back first close-up shot of previously unexplored side of the moon:
(https://i.imgur.com/kq8b0DT.png)
A Chinese spacecraft has become the first ever to land on the far side of the moon, according to state-run media, in a giant leap for human space exploration.
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) landed the robotic probe Chang'e 4 in the unexplored South Pole-Aitken basin, the largest, oldest, deepest, crater on the moon's surface.
Early reports of a successful landing sparked confusion after state-run media China Daily and CGTN deleted tweets celebrating the mission. China Daily's tweet said: '"China's Chang'e 4 landed on the moon's far side, inaugurating a new chapter in mankind's lunar exploration history."
(https://i.imgur.com/kJLb6VS.jpg)
Official confirmation of the landing came two hours later via state broadcaster CCTV, which said the lunar explorer had touched down at 10.26am (2.26am GMT). The Communist party-owned Global Times also said the probe had "successfully made the first-ever soft landing" on the far side of the moon.
The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/jan/03/china-probe-change-4-land-far-side-moon-basin-crater)
China grows the first plants on the Moon
The greenery you see in the soil above might not look like much, but it represents a big step in space exploration. Cotton seeds brought to the Moon aboard China's Chang'e-4 mission have sprouted, marking the first time plants have grown on the lunar surface. They're not in contact with the lunar surface, as you might imagine. The cotton, potato seeds, yeast and fruit fly eggs are instead tucked inside a sealed, self-sustained biosphere that provides the necessary climate and nourishment.
(https://i.imgur.com/hFFnCj8.jpg)
Enggadget (https://www.engadget.com/2019/01/15/china-grows-first-plants-on-moon/)
There Are Plants and Animals on the Moon Now
A small "tin" in the lander contains seeds of potatoes and rockcress (Arabidopsis thaliana, a flowering plant related to cabbage and mustard, as well as a model organism for plant biology), as well as silkworm eggs. The idea, according to a report in The Telegraph earlier this year, is that the plants will support the silkworms with oxygen, and the silkworms will in turn provide the plants with necessary carbon dioxide and nutrients through their waste. The researchers will watch the plants carefully to see whether the plants successfully perform photosynthesis, and grow and bloom in the lunar environment.
Space.com (https://www.space.com/42905-china-space-moon-plants-animals.html)
China are programata o misiune spre Marte in iulie 2020 (probabil 23 iulie) - perioada favorabila lansarilor survine la fiecare aproximativ 26 de luni si e scurta. Foarte secretoasa misiunea, din ce se cunoaste pare a fi o copie a misiunii Nasa care a reusit sa puna robotul Curiosity (intre altii) si a fost un succes. Majoritatea misiunilor tuturor agentiilor au dat gres iar colaborarea ruso chineza in materie e un dezastru, toate misunile au dat gres mai putin una. Sateliti artificiali au mai multi, pina si India are si functioneaza, insa a pune un robot functional pe Marte se dovedeste a fi foarte complicat.
Misiunea se numeste Huaxing 1 (adica Marte 1) si racheta purtatoare va fi "Marsul cel lung 5", cea mai puternica pe care o au. Initial au folosit o purtatoare ruseasca in cadrul ghinionistului proiect comun Phobos Grunt (2011) insa racheta a ratat iesirea de pe orbita Terrei. La rindul ei racheta chinezeasca, capabila sa puna 14 tone pe o orbita de geotransfer (25 de tone pe orbite joase), nu are o istorie prea buna a fiabilitatii. Au facut un test reusit in ianuarie 2020.
Concomitent e anuntata si o misiune spre Marte a Emiratelor Arabe Unite (!) pe o racheta japoneza.
Anton dă niște detalii:
https://youtu.be/Z-JqDOEKXpY