China sneaks rover to Moon? Internet sleuths spot tiny companion hitching ride on Chang’e-6

China’s latest lunar mission, Chang’e-6, appears to have a secret addition: a mysterious mini rover. Following the spacecraft’s launch on Friday (May 3), the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) published photos showing the lander, where keen-eyed internet users spotted a small, wheeled grey object attached to its side, resembling a mini rover. The function of this rover remains undisclosed.

Journalist Andrew Jones, who closely follows China’s space endeavors, commented on X (formerly Twitter), suggesting that the rover had not been previously revealed. The specifics of what the mini rover is intended to do are still unknown.

A report by Live Science, citing a translated statement from the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, indicated that the rover is equipped with an infrared imaging spectrometer, though its exact mission is not yet clear. SpaceNews speculated that given the rover’s small size and the mission lander’s expected short lifespan, it is likely that the rover will have a limited operational window and scope.

SpaceNews also highlighted that this isn’t the first instance of China incorporating undisclosed payloads in its space missions. For instance, during the 2021 Tianwen-1 Mars mission, China deployed a disposable spacecraft that captured images of Tianwen-1 en route to Mars. Additionally, the Tianwen-1 orbiter released a detachable camera that took selfies in Mars orbit, and the mission’s Zhurong rover deployed a camera on the Martian surface.