On the run: China boosts its lunar mission with satellite to talk to dark side of the Moon

China is launching a new satellite on Sunday as part of its ambitious Chang’e-4 mission to make the first-ever landing on the ‘dark side’ of the moon.

The Queqiao relay satellite will be sent to Lagrange L2 Point, where it can maintain communication with both the far side of the moon and Earth. This is vital for phase two of the mission, later this year, when a lander and rover will be sent where no other has gone before – the side of the moon furthest away from Earth.

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