LONDON.
IS IT A BIG DEAL?
WHAT DID THEY DO?
>> IT IS POTENTIALLY A LARGE
DEAL AND VERY IMPORTANT SPACE
ACHIEVEMENT FOR CHINA.
IT BECAME THE FIRST COUNTRY
EVER TO PUT A PROBE ON THAT FAR
SIDE OR THE DARK SIDE OF THE
MOON.
AS IT APPROACHED AND TOUCHED
DOWN IT SENT OUT A SERIES OF
PICTURES AND THEY'RE THE FIRST
CLOSE-UP SHOTS OF THIS UNSEEN
SIDE OF THE MOON.
IT FACES AWAY FROM THE EARTH AT
ALL TIMES.
THAT MEANS ALSO THAT IT IS
IMPOSSIBLE TO SEND SIGNALS
DIRECTLY FROM THE LUNAR SURFACE
BACK TO EARTH.
SO CHINA ALSO HAD TO PUT UP A
COMMUNICATION SATELLITE
ORBITING THE MOON TO BOUNCE
BACK THOSE SIGNALS AND ONE MORE
THING, THERE IS A ROVER VEHICLE
ON BOARD SET TO EXPLORE THIS
UNKNOWN LUNAR SURFACE.
CHINA HAS CALLED IN AND A FEW
OTHERS HAVE, TOO, AN IMPORTANT
MILESTONE.
A NEW CHAPTER IN LUNAR
EXPLORATION.
CHINESE PRESIDENT XI SAYS IT'S
BURGEONING SPACE PROGRAM WILL
MAKE CHINA STRONGER.
IN FACT, THOUGH, THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION IS WARY OF
CHINA'S INTENTIONS IN SPACE AND
ALSO TESTED, AMONG OTHER
THINGS, ANTI-SATELLITE MISSILES.
THIS PERHAPS ACCORDING TO E
PERTS IS ONE MORE REASON BEHIND
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PUSH FOR A
SPACE MILITARY FORCE.
THE PRESIDENT HAS ALSO SAID HE
WANTS TO SEE MORE MANNED LUNAR
LANDINGS FROM THE UNITED STATES.
MAYBE ON THE WAY TO MARS, MAYBE
AS YOU NOTED, THE BEGINNING OF
