On May 3, 2024, China successfully launched its Chang'e-6 lunar probe on a mission to collect rock and soil samples from the far side of the moon. This marks a significant achievement in lunar exploration, as it's the first attempt to retrieve samples from the moon's permanently Earth-facing side.
Here's a quick breakdown of the mission:
- Launch Vehicle: Long March-5 rocket
- Mission Duration: Estimated 53 days
- Goal: Collect around 2 kilograms of lunar samples
The Chang'e-6 probe will land in the South Pole-Aitken Basin, a region believed to be rich in information about the moon's formation and history. The collected samples will be returned to Earth for scientific analysis, potentially offering new insights into the moon's composition and development.
Here are the key points of this mission
- Mission Launch: The Chang’e-6 probe was launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Center on Hainan Island, using the powerful Long March-5 rocket1.
- Objective: The mission’s primary goal is to collect and return samples from the far side of the Moon, which has never been done before2.
- Landing Site: The probe is set to land in the South Pole-Aitken Basin, a large impact crater on the Moon’s far side that remains mysterious as it perpetually faces away from Earth3.
- Mission Components: Like its predecessor Chang’e-5, the Chang’e-6 comprises an orbiter, a lander, an ascender, and a mechanism that allows it to return to Earth3.
- International Collaboration: The mission includes payloads from France, Italy, Pakistan, and the European Space Agency (ESA), although no organizations from the United States are involved due to legal restrictions3.
- Journey and Operations: After separating from the rocket, the probe will take approximately four to five days to reach the Moon’s orbit and is expected to land in early June. Once landed, it will spend two days collecting about 2kg (4.4lb) of samples3.
- Significance: If successful, Chang’e-6 will make China the first country to retrieve samples from the Moon’s “hidden” side, providing scientists with the first direct evidence to understand the environment and material composition of this region3.
This mission is a testament to China’s growing capabilities in space exploration and its commitment to uncovering the secrets of our nearest celestial neighbor.