After a 53-day mission, a Chinese lunar probe returned to Earth after collecting rock samples from the moon’s far side.
According to China Central Television (CCTV), the Chinese lunar probe Chang’e-6 landed at the Siziwangqi landing site in the Inner Mongolia Region around 2 PM on the 25th. This marks its return to Earth 53 days after its launch on December 3rd.
In a live broadcast by the China National Space Administration (CNSA), the control room applauded as the module, attached to a parachute, landed at the site. CNSA Director Zhang Kejian celebrated, stating, “The Chang’e-6 lunar exploration mission has achieved perfect success.”
Chang’e-6 arrived at its target location, the South Pole-Aitken Basin, on January 2nd after its launch on December 3rd. It also deployed the Chinese national flag.
Chang’e-6 collected about 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of moon dust and rocks from the moon’s far side using a drill.
According to China Central Television (CCTV), the samples will be analyzed by Chinese researchers first and shared with international scientists.
In 2019, China became the first country to explore the moon’s far side through Chang’e-4 and collect soil samples from that side.
Scientists are interested in whether the samples contain the moon’s mantle. The South Pole-Aitken Basin is a crater created by meteorite impact. It’s highly likely that the crater penetrated the lunar crust and reached down into the mantle. Collecting the mantle in these samples could provide clues to understanding the moon’s origin and structure.
Brown University professor of planetary geosciences James Head, who collaborated with the Chinese research team, explained the significance of this sample collection, noting, “It’s a gold mine … a treasure chest. International scientists are excited about the mission.” He added, “The moon is the cornerstone for understanding that because its surface does not have plate tectonics – it’s a frozen record of what it was like in our early solar system.”
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