NewsChina's Chang'e 6 ventures to Moon's far side: Aiming for historic sample return

China's Chang'e 6 ventures to Moon's far side: Aiming for historic sample return

Lander Chang'e 6 - visualization

Images source: © CNSA

10:57 AM EDT, May 5, 2024

An extraordinary and exceptionally ambitious lunar mission has commenced. The Chinese lander Chang'e 6, launched by the Long March 5 rocket, aims to touch down on the far side of the Moon. Its mission is to collect and return samples to Earth, marking a historic first in lunar exploration and a significant milestone in studying the Moon.

The mission, which began on Friday, May 3 (or Thursday, May 2 in Eastern Time), may seem similar to its predecessor, in which the Chang'e 5 lander returned approximately 1.73 kg (about 3.81 lbs) of lunar soil to Earth. However, its significance is vastly greater. For the first time, China plans not only to land on the Moon’s so-called dark side, a feat previously achieved by the Chang'e 4 mission, but also to collect samples, launch them into space, and safely return them to our planet.

The challenge is intensified by the Moon's synchronous rotation, always presenting the same face to the Earth. This orientation creates communication barriers since the far side of the Moon cannot directly transmit radio signals to Earth. To overcome this obstacle, China intends to use the Queqiao-2 communication satellite, which will orbit the Moon and function as a radio signal transmitter, facilitating a connection with Earth.

Another aspect that underscores the mission's importance is its targeted landing zone—near the lunar south pole, particularly within the expansive and ancient Aitken Basin. The region, home to the vast Apollo crater, holds critical clues to the Moon’s past. The crater, with an impressive depth of about 8 miles and a diameter of roughly 334 miles, sits in an area shaped by billions of years of asteroid impacts.

Chang'e 6 aims to touchdown in this historic location. The mission seeks to gather samples from the surface, providing unprecedented insights into the Moon's structure and the likely asymmetry of its geological composition. This endeavour will enhance our understanding of lunar history and probe the mysteries buried deep beneath its surface.

Aside from its scientific objectives, the mission also focuses on a practical exploration—the search for water. This element, potentially in the form of ice deposited in the basin's recesses by comets, could be invaluable for future lunar expeditions and longer-term habitation plans.

Through this ambitious venture, China is not just aiming for another lunar landing but is seeking to deepen our comprehension of the Moon's secrets. This extraordinary journey promises to shed light on the ancient impacts that have shaped the lunar surface and to explore the potential resources that could support the next phase of space exploration.