"China's Chang'e-6 Brings Back First-Ever Lunar Samples from Far Side"
- BOOBASHKUMAR S
- Jun 29, 2024
- 1 min read
The Chang'e-6 mission is a significant achievement for China's space program, as it will bring back the first-ever lunar samples from the far side of the Moon. Here are the key details:
The Chang'e-6 spacecraft landed in the South Pole-Aitken basin on the lunar far side on June 2, 2024.[1][2][3] Using a robotic arm and drill, the lander collected around 2 kg (4.4 lbs) of lunar rocks and soil samples.[1][3] These samples were then transferred to an ascender module, which launched from the lander and docked with the orbiter.[1][3]
The orbiter will now carry the return capsule containing the precious lunar samples back to Earth.[1][2][3] When the capsule is about 5,000 km (3,100 miles) from Earth, it will separate from the orbiter and use parachutes to land in Siziwang Banner, Inner Mongolia.[3] This is expected to occur around June 25, 2024.[3]
The return of these first-ever lunar far side samples is hugely exciting for scientists. The material could provide insights into the geological composition and evolution of the far side, which is very different from the near side that previous missions have sampled.[1][2][4] Analyzing the samples may help answer fundamental questions about the formation and early history of the Moon and the inner solar system.[1][2][4]
China plans to conduct three more uncrewed lunar missions this decade, including Chang'e 7 and 8, which will further explore the lunar surface and investigate the possibility of establishing a permanent base on the Moon.[2] The Chang'e-6 mission is a critical stepping stone towards these ambitious goals.[4][5]
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