China's Chang'e-6 lunar lander has achieved a significant milestone by successfully landing on the far side of the moon. The landing, which took place in the South Pole-Aitken Basin, marks a crucial step in China's ambitious mission to advance its space exploration efforts.
The Chang'e-6 probe, part of China's most complex robotic lunar endeavor to date, is set to collect samples from the lunar surface. This uncrewed mission aims to return samples to Earth from the moon's far side for the first time, following the historic achievement of the Chang'e-4 probe in 2019.
If all goes according to plan, the 53-day mission could serve as a key milestone in China's goal to become a dominant space power. China's future plans include landing astronauts on the moon by 2030 and establishing a research base at the moon's south pole, a region believed to contain water ice.
The strategic and scientific benefits of expanded lunar exploration have attracted the interest of various countries, including the United States. Samples collected by the Chang'e-6 lander are expected to provide valuable insights into the origin and evolution of the moon, Earth, and the solar system.
The Chang'e-6 probe landed within the Apollo Basin, located in the vast South Pole-Aitken Basin. Equipped with a drill and a mechanical arm, the lander will gather up to 2 kilograms of moon dust and rocks from the basin, which formed approximately 4 billion years ago.
To complete its mission, the lander will stow the samples in an ascent vehicle, which will return to lunar orbit and transfer the samples to a re-entry capsule. The re-entry capsule will then travel back to Earth's orbit, with an expected return to China's Siziwang Banner Landing Site in Inner Mongolia later this month.
Conducting the mission on the far side of the moon presents communication challenges, as it is out of range of normal communications. The Chang'e-6 mission relies on the Queqiao-2 satellite, launched into lunar orbit in March, to facilitate communication.
China's lunar exploration efforts are part of a broader trend of increased lunar programs worldwide, with a focus on resource access and deep-space exploration. As multiple nations expand their lunar missions, the future of space exploration holds promising opportunities for scientific discovery and technological advancement.
