China’s uncrewed Chang’e 6 spacecraft has successfully landed on the far side of the Moon, an area largely unexplored by other space missions. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced that the spacecraft touched down in the South Pole-Aitken Basin at 06:23 Beijing time on Sunday morning (22:23 GMT Saturday). Launched on May 3, this mission is historic, aiming to collect rock and soil samples from this region for the first time.
In a feat no other country has achieved, China landed an uncrewed spacecraft on the far side of the moon https://t.co/VuKvnT8MTF pic.twitter.com/04ITaCEOlN
— Reuters (@Reuters) June 2, 2024
The Chang’e 6 mission is expected to extract some of the Moon’s oldest rocks from a vast crater at its South Pole. Landing on the far side of the Moon poses significant challenges, primarily due to the difficulty in communicating with the spacecraft. However, China has prior experience, having successfully landed Chang’e-4 on the far side in 2019.
After its launch from Wenchang Space Launch Center, Chang’e 6 orbited the Moon before the lander component separated from the orbiter to touch down on the far side, which permanently faces away from Earth. During its descent, the spacecraft employed an autonomous visual obstacle avoidance system to detect obstacles and select a safe landing area based on the brightness and darkness of the lunar surface. The lander hovered about 100 meters above the landing area, using a laser 3D scanner before a slow vertical descent. The Queqiao-2 relay satellite supported this operation.
Chinese state media hailed the landing as a historic moment, with applause erupting at the Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center upon touchdown. The lander is expected to spend up to three days gathering materials from the surface, an operation involving numerous engineering innovations and high risks.
⚠️🇨🇳China’s Chang E-6 Spacecraft has successfully landed on the far side of the moon 🌙
Chang 6 is now waiting for photos from the robotic lander and as expected back to earth around June 25, 2024👎 pic.twitter.com/iFipsAA9in
— Todd Paron🇺🇸🇬🇷🎧👽 (@tparon) June 2, 2024
Professor John Pernet-Fisher, a lunar geology specialist at the University of Manchester, emphasized the significance of this mission. He noted that analyzing rock from a different area of the Moon could provide fundamental insights into planetary formation. Most of the rocks collected from previous missions are volcanic, similar to those found in Iceland or Hawaii, but material from the far side would have a different chemistry. This could help answer questions about planet formation, crust formation, and the origin of water in the solar system.
The mission aims to collect about 2 kilograms of material using a drill and mechanical arm. The South Pole–Aitken Basin, an impact crater, is one of the largest known in the solar system. The probe could gather material from deep inside the lunar mantle, providing invaluable information about the Moon’s inner structure.
The Moon’s South Pole is a key area for future lunar missions. The potential presence of ice makes it a prime target, as access to water would significantly enhance the feasibility of establishing a human base for scientific research. If the Chang’e 6 mission succeeds, the craft will return to Earth with the samples on board a special return capsule, which will keep the material as pristine as possible. Initially, Chinese scientists will analyze the rocks, with researchers worldwide later given the opportunity to study them.
Wow, an amazing video of spacecraft landing on the far side of the moon!
Chang’e 6 reached the lunar South Pole-Aitken Basin at 6:20am Beijing time today.
It will collect samples and bring them BACK!
Great job, #China! pic.twitter.com/nn3nEtojeJ
— S.L. Kanthan (@Kanthan2030) June 2, 2024
This mission marks China’s second attempt to collect lunar samples. In 2020, Chang’e 5 brought back 1.7 kilograms of material from Oceanus Procellarum on the Moon’s near side. China plans three more uncrewed missions this decade, aiming to find water on the Moon and explore the possibility of establishing a permanent base. Beijing’s broader strategy includes the goal of sending a Chinese astronaut to walk on the Moon by around 2030.
Meanwhile, the US is also pursuing lunar exploration, with NASA planning to launch its Artemis 3 mission in 2026, aiming to return astronauts to the Moon. This while actively persecuting the man who would most likely be most successful with any Lunar missions: Elon Musk.
Major Points:
- China’s uncrewed Chang’e 6 spacecraft successfully landed on the far side of the Moon in the South Pole-Aitken Basin, aiming to collect rock and soil samples for the first time.
- The mission, launched on May 3, employs advanced autonomous systems for obstacle detection and safe landing.
- The lander is expected to gather 2 kilograms of material, potentially including some of the Moon’s oldest rocks, from a vast crater.
- The South Pole-Aitken Basin offers unique geological insights, possibly answering key questions about planetary formation and the origin of water in the solar system.
- This mission is part of China’s broader lunar exploration strategy, including plans for more uncrewed missions and the goal of sending a Chinese astronaut to the Moon by 2030.
Susan Guglielmo – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
