China is set to make another major leap in space exploration following an announcement that the country will land its first ever probe on the dark side of the moon in 2018. China's State of Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense revealed on Thursday the country will send the Chang'e-4 probe to the moon in two years.

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China's probe will be the first in human history to land on the far side of the moon - an area that has never been visible to the Earth. Although previous spacecrafts have seen this part of the moon, none has really ever landed on it.

The probe will assess the far side of the moon. If this mission is successful, radio telescopes could be set up there to help astronomers.

Chang'e-4 is similar to that of Chang'e-3 but has a bigger payload, explains Liu Jizhong, head of the lunar exploration center of science, technology and defense industry. In December 2013, China made its first soft landing on the moon with the Chang'e-3. The craft is still sending information back to Earth.

The People's Republic first announced its plan to explore the dark side of the moon in September. The plan was initially to launch a mission before 2020. Scheduling the launch at an earlier date shows the significance of the country's space exploration program.

China forwarded a letter of intent of cooperation in space exploration to other countries in 2015.

Even if its second exploration has not commenced yet, Chinese scientists are already developing the Chang'e-5 lunar probe to complete China's three-step (orbiting, landing and return) lunar exploration project. 

Tagsspace exploration, Chang'e-5, moon, Lunar Exploration