And INTA in Maspalomas is on alert for the return of China’s Chang e-6 mission in June.

Let nothing let you down: the space diplomacy of the Spanish Aerospace Army with China is largely at stake. The Chang’e-6 space probe, named after the Chinese moon goddess, entered orbit around our satellite. The launch took place from the China National Space Administration (CNSA) Satellite Launch Center in Wenchang on Hainan Island. The Canary Space Center INTA (Mapalomas) and the Kourou tracking station (French Guiana) of the European Space Agency played a very important role in this.

INTA’s work during the launch was key because, in addition to providing support during the launch, Maspalomas’ ground segment and INTA’s Space Programs Department conducted rigorous tests prior to takeoff to ensure the vehicle was functioning properly. This exhaustive series of tests included training and simulation of possible failures during operations, demonstrating INTA’s high level of commitment to the Chang’e 6 mission, just as it had with the previous Chang’e 5 mission launched in December 2020.

Chang’e 6 is scheduled to land in the Aitken-South Pole Basin, one of the most prominent and largest geological features on the Moon, which is actually a huge impact crater. With a diameter of about 2,500 kilometers and a depth of about 13 kilometers, it is one of the largest known impact basins in the Solar System. Exploring this region will provide valuable data about the early history of the Moon and, by extension, the Solar System. As planned, the Chang’e 6 mission will return to Earth on June 25, with the Maspalomas station once again playing a fundamental role offering telemetry, tracking and control (TTC) support during re-entry.