The Chang’e 6 lunar sample return mission has successfully brought back its valuable cargo from the far side of the moon. This achievement marks another significant milestone in China’s ongoing efforts toward a crewed lunar landing.
China just brought back rocks from the far side of the moon (something that’s never been done). Are we in a new Space Race?@ianbremmer weighs in.
World #In60Seconds pic.twitter.com/wpQrgmFKE0
— GZERO Media (@gzeromedia) June 30, 2024
Launched in early May, the Chang’e 6 reached lunar orbit about a week later. It orbited the moon for 20 days before its lander separated from the orbiter in early June, touching down at the Apollo crater on the far side of the moon. The choice of this landing site, noted by Greg Autry, author of “Red Moon Rising,” was seen as a subtle nod to American lunar achievements, given the crater’s name and its association with Apollo astronauts and NASA employees.
The Chang’e 6 mission successfully collected approximately 2 kilograms of lunar material, including samples from up to two meters below the surface, using a scoop and a drill. On June 3, the ascent vehicle, which was part of the lander, launched from the moon and docked with the orbiter/return vehicle. The samples were then transferred to the return vehicle, which left lunar orbit on June 22 and landed in Inner Mongolia on June 25. Additionally, the mission deployed a small rover that took a picture of the lander.
Notably, the flag planted by China at the landing site is made of basalt, a volcanic rock, which ensures its longevity compared to the sun-bleached cloth flags at the Apollo sites. This flag stands as a durable testament to China’s lunar achievements.
The Chang’e 6 mission is the latest in a series of successful Chinese lunar explorations that position China as a key player in the current space race. The previous mission, Chang’e 5, brought back a sample containing helium-3, an isotope that some scientists believe could be used as fuel for future fusion reactors.
For the first time ever, China’s Chang’e 6 robotic mission has brought back valuable samples from the moon’s far side. How does it work? Follow #MegaProject‘s experiment on the “moon’s surface” and discover how it achieved success. Beyond our sight, on behalf of everyone on this… pic.twitter.com/4BcmzTGEL6
— China Daily (@ChinaDaily) June 27, 2024
In contrast, NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program has had mixed results. The Astrobotic Peregrine lander failed to land successfully, and the Intuitive Machine IM-1 Odysseus, while fulfilling most of its scientific objectives, tipped over on the lunar surface. Despite these setbacks, three more CLPS missions are planned for the remainder of 2024.
Firefly Aerospace is set to launch its Blue Ghost lander in the third quarter of 2024, aiming to land 10 instruments provided by NASA and other entities on Mare Cesium, a volcanic region on the moon’s near side. Astrobotic will make another attempt with its larger Griffin lander, tasked with delivering the NASA VIPER rover to the lunar south pole to search for water, with a launch scheduled for no earlier than November 2024. Intuitive Machines will also attempt a second lunar landing at the south pole with its Nova-C lander, Athena, expected in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Opinions differ regarding the long-term prospects of China’s lunar program and the country itself. However, it is clear that China is making steady progress toward landing astronauts on the moon by 2030. In the short term, it is hoped that the CLPS missions will begin to achieve more consistent successes, providing valuable data from the lunar surface.
In our #SpaceRace to the #Moon, “Whoever sets up shop first will have the right to require others act with ‘due regard’ to their positions,” says @OleMiss Prof. @hanlonesq . Read about the lunar race between China and US in this @scientificamer story: https://t.co/34TTUcnvG1 pic.twitter.com/o8FtB3wduG
— Center for Air and Space Law (@Ctr4AirSpaceLaw) June 28, 2024
Looking further ahead, the Artemis program must stay on track. Artemis II is slated for late 2025, which would mark the first human expedition around the moon in decades, reaffirming the U.S. and its allies as leading space powers. By 2026 or shortly thereafter, the Artemis III mission aims to achieve the “second giant leap for mankind” by landing humans on the moon once again. If this occurs before China’s crewed lunar landing, it could signify a win in the second race to the moon, with significant implications for global space dominance.
Major Points:
- The Chang’e 6 mission successfully returned lunar samples from the far side of the moon, landing in Inner Mongolia on June 25.
- Launched in early May, the mission’s lander touched down at the Apollo crater, collecting around 2 kilograms of material from the moon’s surface and subsurface.
- The flag planted by China at the landing site is made of basalt, ensuring its durability compared to the sun-bleached Apollo mission flags.
- The Chang’e 6 mission is part of China’s broader efforts in lunar exploration, aiming for a crewed lunar landing by 2030.
- In contrast, NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program has faced mixed results, with several upcoming missions planned for later in 2024.
Al Santana – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
