In a groundbreaking achievement, China has become the first nation to successfully retrieve samples from the far side of the moon and safely return them to Earth. The historic mission, carried out by the Chang'e-6 probe, landed its precious cargo in the Inner Mongolia region of China on Tuesday, June 25th, 2024[1][2][3][4][5].
The Chang'e-6 probe, named after the Chinese moon goddess, launched on May 3rd from Hainan province and landed on the far side of the moon on June 2nd[1]. The far side of the moon, also known as the "dark side," constantly faces away from Earth due to tidal locking, making it a challenging and largely unexplored region[3][4].
Using a robotic arm and drill, the lander collected rock and soil samples from the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin, one of the moon's oldest and largest craters[1][5]. The ascent module then rendezvoused with the orbiter before beginning its journey back to Earth[1].
The successful return of the samples marks a significant milestone for China's space program and the global scientific community. While the United States, China, and the former Soviet Union have previously collected samples from the near side of the moon, China is the first to retrieve material from the far side[1][2][4].
Scientists anticipate that the samples, which include 2.5-million-year-old volcanic rock and other material, will help answer questions about the geographic differences between the near and far sides of the moon[3][4]. The far side is known to have mountains and impact craters, contrasting with the relatively flat expanses visible on the near side[3][4].
The samples could also provide crucial insights into the early history of the moon and Earth, potentially revealing fragments of the lunar mantle and shedding light on the moon's formation and evolution[1][2]. By dating the SPA basin, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of the lunar cratering timeframe and Earth's impact history[1].
China's future lunar missions, including Chang'e-7 and Chang'e-8, are set to build upon this achievement and lay the groundwork for an International Lunar Research base, a collaborative effort with Roscosmos, the Russian space agency[1][5]. As the scientific community eagerly awaits the analysis of the Chang'e-6 samples, this historic milestone marks a new era of lunar exploration and a significant step forward in our understanding of Earth's celestial companion.
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