The Queqiao relay satellite is on its way to the far side of the moon after China launched it on Monday morning, reports Space.com. The satellite is a major component of China's mission to be the first country to explore the far side of the moon.

Why it matters: According to Axios science editor Andrew Freedman, China aims to explore the far side of the moon later this year. This new satellite is meant to provide a vital communications link between the eventual robotic assets on the lunar surface and controllers on Earth. The craft is also deploying a Dutch satellite to detect the weak radio signals from the early universe.