The Heat: Chang’e-4 lunar mission and Technology trends

The Heat

Chinese lunar landing

Scientists are describing it as a breakthrough achievement.

The Chinese probe Chang’e-4 became the first to land on the so-called dark side of the moon – the side that’s never visible from earth. It’s now positioned in the moon’s oldest and deepest crater, an area scientists believe is ripe for exploration, with samples here that could offer insights into the moon’s origin and evolution.

Landing a spacecraft on the far side wasn’t a mission without challenges. Since the moon blocks direct communications, China had to first put a satellite in orbit to relay signals. The far side of the moon was first photographed in 1959 by the Soviet space probe Luna 3. In 1968, the U.S. Apollo 8 astronauts became the first to see the far side with the naked eye. Until now, all manned and unmanned soft landings have taken place on the near side of the moon making the Chinese mission truly historic.

To discuss the importance of this landing:

  • Yang Yuguang is a professor at the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation.
  • Stephen Clark is a journalist for Spaceflight Now. 

Now to the technology trends of 2019.  5G cellphone communication, smart transportation and the development of artificial intelligence promise to change our lives.

CGTN’s Mark Niu reports.

Follow Mark Niu on Twitter @MarkNiuWrite

To discuss what the future holds:

  • Dejan Milojicic is a distinguished technologist at Hewlett Packard Labs.
  • Ray Wang is the principal analyst and founder of Constellation Research. 

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