The first landing on the far side of the Moon

On this day in 2019, a Chinese spacecraft called Chang'e 4 landed on the far side of the Moon, the side that always faces away from the Earth. Then a little rover named Yutu 2, which means Jade Rabbit, rolled down a ramp to explore.

Why it mattered

Nothing had ever landed there before. Because the far side can't see the Earth, the lander talked to home through a helper satellite floating out beyond the Moon.