Chang'e-4 landing: China's rover drives onto the far side of the moon

Rover known as Jade Rabbit 2 is exploring a part of the world that remains entirely mysterious

China's space agency has shared images of its lunar rover driving onto the far side of the moon.

The photo shows the tracks made by the little robot as it left the spacecraft that became the first to ever land on the mysterious, distant part that remains entirely hidden from us on Earth.

Just as with the pioneering mission of the spacecraft that carried it to the lunar surface, the rover becomes the first piece of kit ever to drive across the far side of the moon.

In this photo provided on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019, by China National Space Administration via Xinhua News Agency, Yutu-2, China's lunar rover, leaves wheel marks after leaving the lander that touched down on the surface of the far side of the moon (China National Space Administration/Xinhua News Agency via AP)

The Jade Rabbit 2 rover drove off a ramp and onto the moon at 10:22 p.m. Thursday, about 12 hours after the Chang'e 4 spacecraft touched down.

Lunar project chief designer Wu Weiren called the separation of the rover "a small step for the rover, but one giant leap for the Chinese nation."

Other countries have sent spacecraft to the side of the moon that faces Earth. The Chinese mission is the first to the far side, sometimes called the dark side because it is relatively unknown.

It has six wheels, according to state media, and can move across the surface at speeds of up to 200 metres per hour. It is still not entirely clear where it will be headed, as the entire moon mission has been largely shrouded in secrecy.

But it is carrying a range of experiments, some of which were given to it by other countries. They include seeds that will try and grow on the lunar surface, potentially seeing the first life grow on the far side of the moon.