China is getting ready to launch the Chang’e-6 mission, a robotic spacecraft to retrieve samples from the dark side of the moon.
This mission serves as a bridge between three difficult missions that are intended to accomplish a Chinese crewed landing and establish a base on the south pole of the moon. Furthermore, it will be the first attempt in history to gather samples from the opposite side of the moon.
China has achieved significant progress in its lunar exploration endeavours since the 2007 Chang’s mission, which was named after the mythical Chinese moon goddess. As a result, China has closed the technology gap with Russia and the United States.
Chang’e-6, which is due to launch this week, will make use of the backup spacecraft from the successful Chang’e-5 mission from 2020—the first mission to return lunar samples to Earth in more than 40 years. The forthcoming trip will focus on the far side of the moon, which is sometimes called the “hidden” side since it is always oriented away from Earth and cannot be reached directly.
Chang’e-6 will rely on the Queqiao-2, a relay satellite that was just placed in lunar orbit, to get around this obstacle.
For the course of the mission, which is anticipated to last 53 days and involve an unprecedented ascent from the moon’s far side—a manoeuvre never before attempted—this satellite will support communications.
Beyond only demonstrating China’s scientific superiority, the mission is significant because it highlights China’s strategic lunar objectives and its dedication to international collaboration. Due to US legal restrictions, China has not collaborated with NASA; instead, as part of the Chang’e-6 mission, scientific payloads from France, Italy, Sweden, and Pakistan are included.
The goal of Chang’e-6 is to land in the oldest and largest known impact basin on the moon, the South Pole-Aitken Basin, in the north-eastern part of the moon. Because it has not been as damaged by volcanic activity that hides older geological features on the near side of the moon, this area is very interesting to scientists. Scientists hope to learn more about the early evolution of the moon and, by implication, the inner solar system by retrieving samples from this region.
China’s Chang’e-6 mission marks a notable advancement in our comprehension of the moon, as worldwide enthusiasm for lunar exploration grows stronger, with multiple countries and private organizations setting their sights on our nearest celestial companion.
