Chang’e 6: China’s Next Lunar Mission Aiming to Collect Samples from the Far Side of the Moon, Set to Launch in 2024.
The Chang’e 6 mission will return samples from the far side of the Moon to Earth and will also carry instruments from the European Space Agency (ESA) and Pakistan, SCMP reported on September 29.
Simulation of the Chang’e 5 lander operating on the Moon. (Photo: CGTN).
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced on September 29 via social media platform Weibo that the Queqiao 2 communications relay satellite will be launched into space in the first half of 2024. This satellite will facilitate communication between Earth and the Moon’s lander. The lander will touch down on the far side of the Moon, which never faces Earth.
“All 10 previous lunar sample-return missions in human history have targeted the near side of the Moon. The far side is relatively ancient and features the Aitken Basin, one of the three major lunar geological formations with the potential to provide valuable research,” the CNSA stated. The main objective of the mission is to explore and collect lunar samples from different areas and time periods to gain further insights into this celestial body.
“To enhance international cooperation, the Chang’e 6 mission will carry cargo and satellites from four countries,” the CNSA wrote in its announcement. This includes a device produced by France to detect radon gas, an ion mass spectrometer from ESA, a laser corner reflector from Italy to calibrate radar systems, and a small CubeSat satellite from Pakistan. “China is accelerating the International Lunar Research Station project and hopes to have more international partners involved,” the CNSA shared.
The Chang’e 6 mission aims to collect between 1 to 2 kilograms of lunar rock and soil samples. Following Chang’e 6, the Chang’e 7 spacecraft will land in the Moon’s south polar region. The mission will include searching for signs of ice, investigating the lunar environment and weather in the area, and surveying the geology. Chang’e 8, the final mission in the Chang’e series, is expected to search for resources near the Moon’s south pole and establish a research station.
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