THE MOON’S HIDDEN FACE

This photo provided by the China National Space Administration shows the first image of the Moon’s far side taken by the Chinese robotic probe

The lunar explorer touched down on January 3, marking the first spacecraft soft-landing on the Moon’s uncharted side in history that is never visible from Earth.

The probe was launched on December 8 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest Sichuan Province, opening a new chapter in lunar exploration.

The tasks of the mission include low-frequency radio astronomical observation, surveying the terrain and landforms, and measuring neutron radiation to study the environment on the far side of the Moon.