US analysts call for deeper cooperation in space

Following China's pioneering soft-landing of the Chang'e 4 spacecraft on the far side of the moon, US space analysts have lauded the success while underscoring planetary and space science as an international endeavor that calls for enhanced cooperation between countries.

"Landing on the far side is a major step forward in our exploration of the moon and will hopefully open the door to future missions by the international space community," said Briony Horgan, assistant professor of Earth, atmospheric and planetary sciences at Purdue University in Indiana.

In addition to the "huge accomplishment" of operating on the far side of the moon, Horgan said she was impressed by the Chinese spacecraft that support the surface and orbital observations.