Chang'e 6 Lunar Mission Highlights

Chang'e 6 Lunar Mission - Key Highlights

• Chang'e 6, China's lunar probe, successfully returned lunar soil samples from the Moon's far side on June 25, 2024. This is a first for any mission collecting materials from this unexplored region.
• The probe, named after the Chinese Moon goddess, launched from Hainan province on May 3, 2024, and landed at the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin on June 2, 2024.
• The SPA basin, approximately 1,600 miles (2,500 km) wide and 5 miles (8 km) deep, is a large and ancient impact crater on the far side of the Moon, one of the largest in the Solar System.
• The lander deployed a 12x8 inch (300 mm x 200 mm) basalt flag depicting China's national flag.
• Researchers intend to investigate using abundant lunar basalt to create high-performance inorganic fibers.
• The lander collected rocks and soil samples via a drill and robotic arm and took high-quality photos.
• The sample-carrying rocket lifted off on June 4, 2024, and transferred the samples to the return capsule.
• The capsule landed in Inner Mongolia on June 25, 2024, carrying approximately four pounds (two kg) of lunar material.
• A portion of the material will be retained by Chinese scientists, and the rest will be distributed globally for research.
• Scientists anticipate insights into the Moon's far side evolution, differences between near and far sides, and early solar system history from the samples.

Future Lunar Missions

• China's next steps include further exploration of the Moon's south pole.
• Chang'e 7 (2026) and Chang'e 8 (2028) will focus on searching for water and crucial resources.
• Crewed lunar missions are planned for 2030.
• China aims to build a permanent lunar base at the South Pole.