China's robotic probe Chang'e-6 has successfully landed on the "far side" of the Moon, 29 days after its launch from Earth. The probe spent 24 of those days orbiting the Moon, preparing for its historic landing. In two days, it is expected to lift off to return with lunar soil samples.
Historic Landing in the Aitken Basin
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced early Sunday morning that Chang'e-6 landed without incident in the South Pole-Aitken Basin, one of the largest impact craters in the solar system. The mission aims to bring back samples from this rarely explored region on the Moon's far side, which is never visible from Earth due to the Moon's synchronous rotation. Although often called the "dark side of the Moon," this region receives sunlight but is permanently turned away from our planet. The far side was first photographed in 1972 by NASA's Apollo 16 mission.
Mission Details and Objectives
Launched on May 3, Chang'e-6 reached the Moon's vicinity by May 8 and has been orbiting since then, positioning itself for the landing. The probe weighs 3.2 tons, with a significant portion, including an initially undisclosed lunar rover, remaining on the Moon. Over the next two days, the Chinese drone will use a drill and a robotic arm to collect approximately two kilograms of lunar soil. A segment of the probe, weighing around 700 kilograms, will then lift off to return to Earth, taking about 20 days to complete the journey. This marks the first attempt to launch from the Moon's far side.
Scientific Significance
Scientists believe that the far side of the Moon, studied only by satellites until now, contains craters less covered by ancient lava flows. The collected material could provide insights into the Moon's formation and geological history. This mission is particularly crucial as it explores a less understood region, potentially offering new discoveries about our natural satellite.
China's Space Ambitions
China has previously sent robotic rovers to both the Moon and Mars and aims to conduct a crewed mission to the Moon before 2030, followed by the construction of a lunar base. The United States, planning a similar mission by 2026, asserts that China's space program may be concealing military objectives and efforts to establish dominance in space.
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Source: The Guardian
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