Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by takyon on Thursday January 03 2019, @02:33PM   Printer-friendly
from the yasm dept.

Australian Broadcast Corporation:

It is the first time a soft landing has been performed on the Moon's far side — also known as the dark side because it faces away from earth and remains comparatively unknown — due to challenges relaying signals.

The Chang'e 4 spacecraft touched down at 10:26am local time, the official China Central Television said.

Chang'e 4 is a lander-rover combination and will explore both above and below the lunar surface.

Some of the experiments aboard will investigate the Moon's potential to support future space travellers.

One of those experiments is a biosphere project, which includes silkworm eggs, thale cress and potato seeds.

If it goes to plan, the ecosystem would be self-sustaining, with the silkworms germinating the potatoes and popping out caterpillars. These would in turn produce carbon dioxide, helping the plants grow as a food source.

Chang'e 4.

Also at BBC, The Guardian, and CNN.

YASM means 'Yet Another Sputnik Moment'


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 03 2019, @04:18PM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 03 2019, @04:18PM (#781520)

    So, did they try the self-sustaining part on Earth? How did it go under simulated conditions? Any link to their research?

    If they haven't or they have without success, then it's pointless stunt.

  • (Score: 2) by ElizabethGreene on Thursday January 03 2019, @11:15PM

    by ElizabethGreene (6748) Subscriber Badge on Thursday January 03 2019, @11:15PM (#781762) Journal

    Traditionally life science experiments in space are mirrored by a control group on Earth to see what happens differently in the new environment. Data about the control and experiment group will be published, but in all likelihood you won't be able to read it unless you know Mandarin.

    For those not familiar with China's space program they also have space stations, landed a rover (Jade Rabbit) on the light side of the moon in Chang'e 3, and (unlike the US) have an operational manned spaceflight capability.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 04 2019, @03:09AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 04 2019, @03:09AM (#781871)

    Any link to their research?

    What would be their motivation to share that research?