China's spacecraft lands on the moon's surface.
China's space agency hit a significant milestone as the lunar probe, Chang'e 6, successfully touched down on the moon. This mission aims to collect rock samples from the far side of the moon, where experts believe valuable resources exist.
China claims to be the first country to land a spacecraft on the far side of the moon for the collection of rock samples. The Chinese space agency declared that the lander of the lunar probe named "Chang'e 6" landed "successfully" on the lunar surface. This groundbreaking event marks a major achievement for China's space program. It would also be the first time in history that soil and rock samples from the remote side of the moon have been brought to Earth.
The mission took off from the spaceport, Wenchang, on the southern Chinese island of Hainan, in early May. After a journey of over four days, the "Chang'e 6" entered the lunar orbit and orbited the moon in search of a suitable time and location for landing. Now, the landing module of the probe will use a robotic arm to gather two kilograms of rock and soil samples in the so-called South Pole-Aitken Basin of the moon. The "Chang'e 6" is expected to return to Earth at the end of June, with the lunar mission lasting 53 days.
"Obtaining direct samples from the backside of the moon is necessary to better understand the properties and differences between the two sides of the moon and to solve the mysteries of the moon," remarked Zeng Xingguo, a scientist at the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in a statement released by the Xinhua news agency.
Largest and oldest crater on the moon
The landing site of "Chang'e 6" is the largest and oldest impact crater on the moon, with a diameter of 2,500 kilometers and a depth of up to eight kilometers, as per reports in the Science magazine. Scientists have been aiming to collect samples from this area as it may provide insights into the formation of the moon, Earth, and the early history of the solar system.
The origin of this basin is still a subject of debate among scientists. Some believe it was created by a meteorite impact four and a half billion years ago, while others argue that it happened hundreds of millions of years later.
Once again, like in previous missions, China allows equipment from other countries to fly on "Chang'e-6." The probe carries instruments and equipment from France, Italy, Sweden, and Pakistan.
Since 2007, there have been six lunar missions launched by China. The latest one to bring samples from the front side of the moon was "Chang'e 5," which returned to Earth with samples for analysis in 2020. This feat had only been accomplished by the United States and the Soviet Union before China. In 2019, China landed a rover on the far side of the moon with "Chang'e 4" and explored the terrain there.
Moon exploration is considered challenging, and several lunar probes from India, Israel, Japan, and Russia have not been able to reach their destination. The moon is compelling for many nations because of suspected valuable resources. Additionally, the latest Chinese lunar mission, "Chang'e 6," could also be a crucial step towards China's future plans to collect soil samples from Mars.
China has been investing heavily in its space program for years with the intention of catching up with the US in this field. By 2030, China plans to send a manned mission to the Moon. Ultimately, China aims to build a research station near the South Pole of the Moon where valuable resources and potentially even water are suspected. The Russian news agency Tass recently reported that the Duma - the lower house of the Russian parliament - had ratified an agreement with China on cooperation in the establishment of a permanent lunar research station. The US also plans to return to the Moon with astronauts more than 50 years after their Apollo missions from 1969 to 1972. After several delays, the manned lunar landing of NASA's Artemis program is now scheduled for autumn 2026. Another lunar landing is planned for 2028.
