He called the event "an important milestone for China's space exploration", adding that it has made a good start for future lunar exploration efforts. 

With its investigation of the far side, particularly the Von Karman crater, the Chang'e 4 mission will enable scientists to find out what they haven't known about the moon and deepen their knowledge of its early history and of the solar system. 

Researchers also can use the far side's shield against Earth's interference to make clearer observations into deep space, scientists expect. 

Zhang He, executive director of the Chang'e 4 program at the China Academy of Space Technology, said, "As there had been no probe on the far side before us, all scientific information obtained by the Chang'e 4 will be new to the world." 

Next, Chang'e 4 will start testing and fine-tuning its equipment under control from the Beijing Aerospace Control Center and will wait for suitable conditions to release its rover, officials said. 

Chang'e 4 was launched atop a Long March 3B carrier rocket on Dec 8 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province. 

Developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, the probe has two parts: a lander and a rover. It is the fourth lunar probe China has launched since the country's lunar program began in 2004