China to become world’s first nation to land on dark side of the Moon

One side of the Moon is always facing Earth thanks to the gravitational pull of tides on Earth, a process known as “tidal locking”.

No organisation has ever managed to send a probe to the other side of the Moon due to the communication difficulties it presents – signals would struggle to reach it from Earth meaning there would be a lack of communication.

However, China is now trying to overcome that feat and send a probe to the dark side of the Moon.

The mission comprises of two parts known collectively as Chang’e 4.