China took first step in exploring far side of Moon

Beijing. May 22. Silkroadnews - China launched the first of the satellites of its lunar mission Chang’e 4, “People’s Daily” reports.
According to the statement by the China National Space Administration, the satellite named Queqiao was carried by a Long March-4C rockets from Xichang launch center in Sichuan province.
The satellite entered an Earth-Moon transfer orbit and began traveling to a halo orbit near the Lagrangian point. From there, it will transmit the communication signals between the Earth and the Chang’e 4 lunar probe, which is scheduled to be delivered to the surface of the Moon at the end of this year.
The satellite of the Queqiao, developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, weighs about 400 kilograms, and is designed for three years’ operation. The satellite has a large umbrella antenna with a diameter of about 5 meters providing for data transfer from Chang'e-4 in real time.
Chang’e-4’s mission will allow scientists to obtain new data on the Moon. According to Bao Weimin, director of the Science and Technology Commission of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the location of the probe on the far side of the Moon will also help to avoid Earth’s influence in getting clearer observations of the far space.