China’s Chang’e-6 lunar probe is approaching Earth, carrying the first-ever samples collected from the moon’s far side. According to official sources, the probe has completed over 70 percent of its 380,000-kilometer journey back to Earth and is scheduled to land in Siziwang Banner, located in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
The return capsule is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and touch down at the designated landing site on Tuesday. This marks the final stage of the complex and challenging 53-day mission, which involved landing on the moon, collecting samples, ascending, docking in lunar orbit, and returning to Earth.
Optical and radio observations have confirmed that the Chang’e-6 return capsule is en route to Earth. Civilian organizations, including the German Amateur Radio Satellite Organization, have tracked the probe’s journey, providing valuable data through their observations and records.
Before re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, the return capsule will employ a special technique known as a “skip re-entry” to reduce the high speed accumulated during its return from the moon. This maneuver ensures a safe landing and protects the precious lunar samples on board.
The recovery of samples from the moon’s far side is a significant milestone in lunar exploration. The far side, often referred to as the “dark side” of the moon, has a different composition and geological history compared to the near side. Analyzing these samples will enable scientists to gain deeper insights into the moon’s formation, its evolutionary history, and the early history of the solar system.
Earlier this month, NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) observed Chang’e-6 on the moon’s far side for the first time. Mark Robinson, the principal investigator of the LRO’s advanced camera system, noted that Chang’e-6 was located near the edge of a roughly 50-meter-wide crater, flanked by two similar-sized craters, highlighting the mission’s precision landing capabilities.
As Chang’e-6 prepares for its historic return, anticipation is building within the global scientific community. The successful completion of this mission not only represents a significant achievement for China’s lunar exploration program but also contributes valuable knowledge to humanity’s understanding of the moon and the broader solar system.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
