China’s Chang’e 6 probe successfully blasted off from the moon, returning samples taken from the far side of the Earth’s moon in an unprecedented feat in space exploration, the country’s state press reported Tuesday.
The milestone represents a new step in China’s ambitious space program, which has already become the first country to place a probe on this part of the Moon and plans to send a manned mission to the satellite in 2030.
“The ascent module of China’s Chang’e-6 probe lifted off from the lunar surface on Tuesday morning, delivering samples collected on the far side of the moon,” state news agency Xinhua reported, citing the China National Space Agency (CNSA). ).
These media outlets define it as “an unprecedented milestone in the history of human lunar exploration.”
“The mission survived the high temperature test on the far side of the moon,” the Chinese space agency said.
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The Chang’e 6 probe landed Sunday in the vast Aitken Basin, one of the largest known impact craters in the solar system, located on the far side of the moon, according to CNSA.
The ship, which began a challenging 53-day mission on May 3, has a robotic arm to collect material from the surface and a drill to take samples from the inside.
After this material was collected, “the Chinese national flag mounted on the lunar lander was displayed on the far side of the moon for the first time,” Xinhua reported.
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CSNA did not specify how the mission will continue, but according to specialized portals, the samples will remain in lunar orbit for several weeks and then begin their return to Earth around June 25.
Scientists believe that this part of the Moon, never visible from Earth, has great potential for exploration because its craters are not as covered with ancient lava flows as those on the side closest to the planet.
The material collected by the Chinese probe may also provide clues about how the Moon formed.
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Since taking power, Chinese President Xi Jinping has promoted the Asian giant’s “space dream.”
Over the past decade, the country has devoted enormous resources to closing the gap with the two traditional powers in the sector, the United States and Russia.
Along the way, he achieved notable successes such as building the Tiangong space station, landing robotic space exploration on Mars and the Moon, and sending manned missions into orbit.
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The US claims that China’s aerospace program conceals military goals and is aimed at establishing the Asian country’s dominance in space.
The latest mission, Chang’e 6, is part of renewed interest in the Moon, where China wants to send astronauts to in 2030 and plans to build a space base.
The United States also wants to return humans to the Moon in 2026 with the Artemis 3 mission.
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