2016年CRI China to Land Probe on Dark Side of Moon in 2018

 

China plans to launch Chang'e-4 lunar probe to the dark side of the moon in 2018, as announced by China's State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry.

Liu Jizhong, director of the lunar exploration program and space engineering center, says the probe will carry out a series of on-site detection activities.

"There are many ancient rocks on the dark side of the moon, which will help us to understand the moon's evolution." 

In announcing the plan, scientists have also begun to ask for public ideas about what to bring with the lunar probe. 

The soliciting¹ process concludes at the end of March.

Qian Yan, an official with the national science administration, says this is to encourage more public participation² in scientific innovation. 

"Every time when a major space project is successfully implemented³, such as the achievement of the Shenzhou spacecraft entering orbit and Shenzhou-10's docking mission with Tiangong-1, the passion for scientific and technological⁴ innovation will be greatly inspired among the public, especially youngsters."

The dark side of the moon is never visible to Earth because of gravitational forces and has never been explored by humans because of communication loss.

Liu Jizhong says the Chang'e-4 mission can solve the communication issue.

"The biggest difference this time is that we have added a relay satellite for communications from the Earth to the moon. Meanwhile, we have also arranged some research work for the satellite."

The relay satellite is scheduled to be sent in June 2018, and then a lander and a rover at the end of 2018.

Liu says Chang'e 4's design will be different from previous generations of landers.

"On the far side, a lot of environment and conditions are unknown. And the landform is complex. So we need to make some changes on the design of Chang'e 4 comparing with Chang's 3."

China achieved its first soft-landing on the moon with Chang'e-3 in 2013, following the Soviet⁵ Union and the United States.

China also plans to launch its Chang'e-5 lunar probe around 2017 to finish the final chapter in China's three-step moon exploration program, which includes the probe's orbiting, landing and returning missions.

For CRI, this is Wang Mengzhen.

1 soliciting   

v.恳求( solicit的现在分词 )；（指娼妇）拉客；索求；征求

参考例句：

• A prostitute was soliciting on the street. 一名妓女正在街上拉客。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• China Daily is soliciting subscriptions. 《中国日报》正在征求订户。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

2 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

3 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

4 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

5 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。