In a groundbreaking moment for space exploration, China’s Chang’e-6 spacecraft has successfully lifted off from the far side of the Moon, carrying with it the first-ever samples from this unexplored region. The spacecraft, which launched its mission on May 3, 2024, is now en route back to Earth, with an expected landing in Inner Mongolia on or around June 25.The successful sample collection and lift-off from the Moon’s South Pole-Aitken Basin, an impact crater eight miles deep and 1,500 miles wide, represent a significant step forward for China’s lunar exploration efforts. The basin is believed to have been created over four billion years ago, and the samples could provide key insights into the Moon’s geological history and the early days of the solar system.China’s space program has been making significant strides, with the Chang’e-6 mission being part of a larger plan to send astronauts to the Moon by 2030 and eventually establish a lunar base. The Chang’e-6 mission’s success also underscores China’s capability to conduct complex operations on the Moon’s far side, a feat that enhances the country’s status as a dominant space power.As the Chang’e-6 spacecraft makes its journey back to Earth, the scientific community eagerly anticipates the arrival of these unprecedented samples. The analysis of these lunar rocks could provide valuable insights into the origin and evolution of the Moon, the Earth, and the broader solar system.
Key points
- Chang’e-6 has lifted off from the Moon’s far side with the first-ever samples from this region.
- The mission, part of China’s plan to send humans to the Moon by 2030, is a significant achievement for the country’s space program.
- The samples from the South Pole-Aitken Basin could provide new insights into the Moon’s and solar system’s history.
- The spacecraft is expected to land in Inner Mongolia around June 25.
