FILE: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, northwest China - Exact Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of rocket being launched into space

Beijing, China - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zhao Xiaojin, secretary of CPC (Communist Party of China) committee, China Aerospace Science and Technology:
"We plan to launch Chang'e-4 lunar probe in the second half of 2018. This will be the first time for a lunar probe to land on the far side of the Moon. Chang'e-4 lunar probe will not only do a soft landing on the far side of the Moon, but also conduct in-situ and patrol exploration at the landing site."

FILE: Beijing, China - Exact Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
3. Various of photos of moon
4. Animations of lunar probe missions

Beijing, China - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zhao Xiaojin, secretary of CPC (Communist Party of China) committee, China Aerospace Science and Technology:
"In the first half of 2018, we will first launch a relay satellite to Lagrange L2 Point, where the satellite can keep communication with both the far side of the Moon and the Earth. Therefore, we can control the lunar probe for data transmission using this relay satellite."

FILE: Beijing, China - Exact Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
6. Animations of lunar probe missions
7. Various of lunar probe on moon

Beijing, China - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
8. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zhao Xiaojin, secretary of CPC (Communist Party of China) committee, China Aerospace Science and Technology:
"Chang'e-3 lunar probe used a slow and arc-shaped landing, while as for Chang'e-4 lunar probe we have to adopt a steep and almost vertical landing. Chang'e-4 lunar probe will have huge improvements on its capabilities because we have adopted new technologies and new products. For example, Chang'e-3 lunar probe could not work during the night, but Chang'e-4 lunar probe can do some measurement work at night."

FILE: Beijing, China - Exact Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
9. Various of moon

The mission of Chang'e-4 lunar probe will proceed in two phases this year, and Chang'e-4 lunar probe will reach the far side of the Moon for the first time, said an official from China Aerospace Science and Technology (CAST).

"We plan to launch Chang'e-4 lunar probe in the second half of 2018. This will be the first time for a lunar probe to land on the far side of the Moon. Chang'e-4 lunar probe will not only do a soft landing on the far side of the Moon, but also conduct in-situ and patrol exploration at the landing site," said Zhao Xiaojin, secretary of the CPC (Communist Party of China) committee at the CAST.

There is one side of the Moon that is always facing away from the Earth, known as the far side of the Moon. No direct contact can be made between the far side of the Moon and the Earth. Therefore, a relay satellite is needed to build the contact.

"In the first half of 2018, we will first launch a relay satellite to Lagrange L2 Point, where the satellite can keep communication with both the far side of the Moon and the Earth. Therefore, we can control the lunar probe for data transmission using this relay satellite," said Zhao.

Chang'e-4 lunar probe was the backup of the Chang'e-3 lunar probe which successfully landed on Moon in 2013. Zhao said the landing mode and working condition of the Chang'e-4 lunar probe are very different from the Chang'e-3 lunar probe.

"Chang'e-3 lunar probe used a slow and arc-shaped landing, while as for Chang'e-4 lunar probe we have to adopt a steep and almost vertical landing. Chang'e-4 lunar probe will have huge improvements on its capabilities because we have adopted new technologies and new products. For example, Chang'e-3 lunar probe could not work during the night, but Chang'e-4 lunar probe can do some measurement work at night," said Zhao.