The Chang’e 4 mission includes a stationary lander and mobile rover, each carrying cameras and scientific instruments.
The two vehicles were built as spares for China’s Chang’e 3 mission, which was the first Chinese lunar lander, touching down on the near side of the moon in December 2013.
Chinese officials repurposed Chang’e 4 with new scientific instruments and sent it to the far side of the moon.
A communications satellite launched by China last year relays signals between Earth and Chang’e 4.
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