China’s Chang’e-6 mission brings back rare samples from Moon’s far side

China’s Chang’e-6 lunar mission made a historic return to Earth on Tuesday, June 25, bringing back the first-ever samples from the far side of the Moon. The mission’s landing occurred in the northern Inner Mongolia region of China shortly after 2 p.m. local time.

Chinese President Xi Jinping lauded the mission, calling it a realization of the country’s “eternal dream” as Beijing strives to become a leading space power and expand its exploration programs.

Lunar Samples and Scientific Research

Reports indicate that the Chang’e-6 mission has returned with approximately 2 kilograms of lunar dust and rocks. These samples will undergo initial analysis by Chinese scientists before being made available to researchers worldwide.

Challenges of the Chang’e-6 Mission

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) highlighted that the Chang’e-6 mission endured extreme conditions, including high temperatures on the moon’s far side.

“The Chang’e-6 mission withstood the high temperatures on the far side of the moon,” stated the CNSA.

Operational and Technical Challenges

The Chang’e-6 mission faced additional technical challenges compared to the previous Chang’e-5 mission, which collected samples from the moon’s near side. The Chang’e-6 probe operated without direct communication links to Earth, relying instead on the Queqiao-2 satellite, which was launched in April to support this mission.

Equipped with a drill and a robotic arm, the Chang’e-6 probe collected soil samples from the moon’s surface. Additionally, the mission proudly planted China’s national flag on the dark side of the moon.

Conclusion

The successful return of the Chang’e-6 mission marks a significant milestone in China’s lunar exploration efforts, demonstrating the country’s growing capabilities in space exploration and contributing valuable scientific data for international research.