The unmanned spacecraft Chang’e 6 from China has successfully landed on the dark side of the Moon, beginning its mission to collect soil and rock samples for research.
At 6:23 AM on June 2 (Beijing time), the Chang’e 6 unmanned spacecraft made a successful landing in the dark side of the Moon within the northeastern area of the South Pole-Aitken Basin, according to the South China Morning Post.
The spacecraft was launched on May 3 as part of a groundbreaking mission to collect soil and rock samples from the Moon’s dark side.
Image of the unmanned Chang’e 6 spacecraft after landing on the dark side of the Moon on June 2. (Photo: CCTV).
Because the Moon always rotates in sync with Earth, its far side remains hidden from view, making it a dark and mysterious area that humanity seeks to explore.
The China National Space Administration has announced that this mission is expected to last approximately 53 days and has released stunning footage capturing the spacecraft’s landing.
Footage of the Chang’e 6 unmanned spacecraft landing on the dark side of the Moon on June 2. (Source: SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST).
The spacecraft is expected to undergo initial testing before it begins collecting soil and rock samples from the lunar surface using its robotic arm.
If successful in returning to Earth, the spacecraft will provide scientists with the first soil and rock samples from the Moon’s dark side.
According to scientists, the samples collected by the spacecraft could lead to significant discoveries about the Moon’s history and evolution, especially since the two hemispheres are very different. For instance, the near side facing Earth is covered with volcanic plains, while this is rarely the case on the far side (the dark side).
“Samples taken directly from the far side of the Moon are essential for helping us gain a deeper understanding of the characteristics and differences between the two sides, while also revealing the mysteries of the Moon,” said Zeng Xingguo, a scientist at the National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Meanwhile, astrophysicist Quentin Parker from the University of Hong Kong stated, “Samples collected from the South Pole-Aitken Basin may also contain ancient materials ejected from deep within the mantle due to the immense impact that created this basin. This could provide us insights into the state of the Moon when it first formed about 4.5 billion years ago.”
