On June 4, the ascender of China’s Chang’e-6 probe lifted off from the lunar surface, carrying samples collected from the far side of the moon. This unprecedented accomplishment marks a significant milestone in human lunar exploration history.
As we celebrate International Moon Day on July 20, let’s take a journey through the history of China’s lunar exploration program and its remarkable achievements.
The Birth of the Chang’e Program
In 2004, China officially named its lunar exploration program after Chang’e, the revered moon goddess in Chinese mythology. The program was designed with a three-step plan: orbiting, landing, and sample return. The first step focused on developing a lunar satellite and launching it into the moon’s orbit.
First Steps: Chang’e-1 and Chang’e-2
In 2007, China launched its first lunar probe, Chang’e-1. The mission provided a comprehensive map of the moon’s surface, unveiling previously unseen details. Less than three years later, Chang’e-2 entered a lunar orbit merely 100 kilometers from the moon. It offered a much clearer view, capturing images at an unprecedented resolution of seven meters, and produced the best moon map at that time.
Touching the Lunar Surface: Chang’e-3
With the success of the orbital missions, China was poised for the next step: landing. In 2013, Chang’e-3 achieved a successful soft landing on the moon. Accompanied by China’s first lunar rover, Yutu (Jade Rabbit), it left a significant mark on the lunar surface.
Exploring the Far Side: Chang’e-4
China then set its sights on an even more ambitious destination—the far side of the moon. Following the launch of the relay satellite Queqiao to facilitate communications, the Chang’e-4 probe embarked on its journey. On January 3, 2019, Chang’e-4 made humanity’s first soft landing on the moon’s far side. The Yutu-2 rover began exploring this uncharted territory, providing invaluable data.
Sample Return Missions: Chang’e-5 and Chang’e-6
In 2020, the Chang’e-5 lunar probe successfully retrieved about 1,731 grams of lunar samples, completing the world’s first moon-sample mission in over four decades. Four years later, in June, the Chang’e-6 returner made a momentous landing in northern China, carrying the world’s first-ever samples from the far side of the moon.
The Journey Continues
China’s lunar exploration is far from over. With upcoming missions Chang’e-7 and Chang’e-8, the country aims to continue unveiling the mysteries of the moon and contribute significantly to human understanding of our celestial neighbor.
Reference(s):
Tech Breakdown: A history of China's lunar exploration in 3 minutes
cgtn.com
