China plans eco-mission to Lunar Far Side
China intends to lay out a garden on the back side of the Moon and to continue the lunar exploration.
The new two-component Chang'e-4 space mission will be launched in June. The relay satellite, weighing 425 kg, will be launched by a Long March 4C rocket 425kg and placed 60,000km behind the moon.
After the establishing the communication, the second lander and rover will deliver the seeds of potatoes, arabidopsis and silkworm eggs packed in the container, made of special aluminum alloy.
According to chief designer of the container Zhang Yuanxun, the eggs will turn into silkworms, which can produce carbon dioxide, and the potatoes to emit oxygen in photosynthesis.
So, the simple ecosystem will be created on the Moon, providing experience for the future establishment of eco-bases on other planets.
The second component of the satellite will be deployed in the southern hemisphere of the Moon, unstudied region called South Pole-Aitken Basin, which stretches from the South Pole to Aitken crater.
PRC started the lunar exploration program in 2007 with Chang’e-1, a simple lunar orbiter. There are also plans to send the Chang'e-5 probe, which is being tested and will be ready for launch from August, announced last year China National Space Administration. The main task of Chang'e-5 will be bringing back the samples of lunar soil and rocks.
