China is poised to unveil the weight of the lunar samples collected by its groundbreaking Chang’e-6 mission from the far side of the moon. The announcement, scheduled for this Friday, has ignited anticipation among scientists globally.
Distinct from previous missions that targeted the near side of the moon, Chang’e-6 succeeded in retrieving material from the moon’s elusive far side—a region that has remained largely unexplored until now. According to Li Chunlai, deputy chief designer of the mission, this achievement offers an unprecedented opportunity to deepen our understanding of lunar geology and the moon’s formation history.
Hu Hao, chief designer of Chang’e-6, observed that the samples from the far side appear markedly different from those collected on earlier missions. While near-side lunar soil is typically fine and loose, the far-side samples present unique characteristics. This visual distinction has sparked excitement among researchers, who anticipate new discoveries from the forthcoming analyses.
Launched on May 3, 2024, the Chang’e-6 probe conducted its sample collection within the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin. This vast impact crater, believed to be the largest in the inner solar system, was formed over 4.3 billion years ago by a colossal celestial collision. Studying material from this ancient basin could shed light on the moon’s early history and the dynamic processes that have shaped it.
The return capsule, carrying the precious lunar cargo, successfully touched down on Earth this Tuesday. The scientific community eagerly awaits the forthcoming analysis, which may reveal unprecedented findings about our natural satellite.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
