In a historic feat, China’s lunar probe Chang’e-6 successfully lifted off from the far side of the Moon, carrying the first-ever samples collected from this region. The spacecraft’s collecting module departed the lunar surface at around 07:38 on Tuesday (23:38 GMT Monday), marking a significant milestone in the country’s ambitious space exploration program.
On Sunday, the Chang’e-6 mission landed in the South Pole-Aitken basin, a gigantic crater on the Moon’s far side, making China the only country to have achieved this feat. The Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) described the landing and lift-off as an “unprecedented feat in human lunar exploration.”
The precious samples, weighing around 2kg, were collected using a mechanical arm and drill and are now safely stowed in a metal vacuum container. The container will be transferred to a re-entry capsule, which is set to return to Earth and land in the deserts of Inner Mongolia around June 25.
Scientists are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to analyze these samples, which could potentially provide valuable insights into the formation and evolution of the Moon and the solar system. The successful launch and return of the Chang’e-6 probe mark another significant step in China’s ambitious space exploration plans.
