China’s Chang’e-6 mission has returned nearly two kilograms of samples from the far side of the Moon.
China’s Chang’e-6 mission collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the moon based on the weighing of the container that arrived on Earth on June 25. “We found that the samples brought back by Chang’e-6 were more viscous compared to previous sampleswith the presence of lumps. “These are the observed characteristics,” said Ge Ping, deputy director of the Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center of the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and a spokesman for the Chang’e-6 mission.
Once the container is returned, the researchers will begin their investigation. storage and processing lunar samples as planned and will begin research work, Xinhua reports.
These lunar samples, the first ever collected from the far side of the Moon, have special scientific significance. According to CNSA, they will improve understanding of lunar evolution, accelerate peaceful exploration and use of lunar resources, and become a valuable resource for humanity.
CNSA plans to organize scientific studies of the samples and share the results of the lunar exploration with the international community. Based on the lunar sample management guidelines published by the CNSA and previous experience with samples collected by the Chang’e 5 mission, requests for access to Chang’e 6 samples are expected to open to research institutes and domestic scientists in about six months, according to Ge.
Regarding international requests, Ge said China has always supported positive and open attitude, and invites scientists from all over the world to submit applications in accordance with the relevant procedures.
They used to achieve important scientific achievements through the study of lunar samples returned by the Chang’e 5 mission in areas such as lunar formation and evolution, space weathering and resource use. The researchers have published more than 80 studies in national and international journals, including the discovery of the new lunar mineral Changesite-(Y), the sixth discovered on the Moon, and the “youngest” basalt on the Moon, estimated to be approximately two billion million years old. years, which extended the “life” of lunar volcanism by 800–900 million years longer than previously known.
The Chang’e-6 probe was launched into orbit on May 3. The return module carrying lunar samples landed at its designated site in northern China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on June 25, marking Complete mission success.
The Chang’e-6 return module later arrived safely in Beijing. Researchers opened the module on Wednesday and successfully collected the lunar sample container, according to the CNSA. The mission not only represents an important milestone in China’s lunar explorationbut also underlines China’s commitment to global scientific cooperation and contribution to the collective knowledge of our natural satellite.