China's Chang'e-6 lunar probe has made a triumphant return to Earth, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. The probe returned with the world's first samples from the far side of the moon, a feat that has never been accomplished before.
The Chang'e-6 mission began with the launch of the probe from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan Province on May 3, 2024. The probe successfully landed on a crater close to the Moon's south pole a few weeks later. The mission's target was the South Pole-Aitken Basin, an impact crater created more than 4 billion years ago.
After a nearly two-month-long mission fraught with risks, the Chang'e-6 made its fiery plunge through the atmosphere on June 25. It landed in the grasslands of Inner Mongolia, bringing the 53-day-long Chang'e 6 mission to a successful conclusion. The return of the probe was a moment of national pride, with state media showing officials planting the Chinese flag just after the Chang'e-6 capsule landed in the desert of Inner Mongolia.
The Chang'e-6 mission is a source of pride for China, which has stepped up its missions to the Moon, drawing attention from its rival, the US. The mission is part of a growing rivalry with the U.S. — still the leader in space exploration — and others, including Japan and India.
The samples returned by Chang'e-6 are expected to include 2.5 million-year-old volcanic rock and other material. Scientists hope these samples will answer questions about geographic differences on the moon's two sides. The far side of the moon, which faces outer space, is known to have mountains and impact craters, contrasting with the relatively flat expanses visible on the near side.
Sources:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/china-change-4-historic-landing-moon-far-side-explained
https://www.space.com/china-chang-e-6-preparing-landing-moon-far-side
https://news.cctv.com/2024/06/25/ARTIrfDXpIwhQw0wnnVb7nex240625.shtml