China is gearing up for a new chapter in lunar exploration with its upcoming Chang’e 6 mission. Scheduled to launch in the near future, Chang’e 6 aims to collect samples from the far side of the Moon—a feat that has never been accomplished before.
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) is planning this ambitious mission to deepen our understanding of the Moon’s geology and the early history of the solar system. The mission follows the success of Chang’e 5, which returned lunar samples from the near side of the Moon in December 2020.
The Chang’e 6 mission will involve a lunar lander and an ascent vehicle. After collecting soil and rock samples, the ascent vehicle will lift off from the lunar surface and rendezvous with an orbiter to return the samples to Earth. The mission represents a significant technological challenge due to the communication difficulties posed by the Moon’s far side, which always faces away from Earth.
To overcome this, China previously launched the Queqiao relay satellite to facilitate communication between Earth and the lunar far side. This technology was used during the Chang’e 4 mission, which successfully landed a rover on the far side in 2019.
The upcoming mission not only showcases China’s growing capabilities in space exploration but also contributes valuable data to the international scientific community. The samples retrieved could provide insights into the composition of the lunar mantle and the processes that have shaped the Moon.
The China National Space Administration held a preparatory ceremony in Beijing recently, highlighting the progress made toward the Chang’e 6 mission. The event emphasized the collaborative efforts between various scientific institutions, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
As anticipation builds, the world watches as China prepares to make history once again on the lunar surface, pushing the boundaries of human knowledge and technological prowess.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
