China’s Chang’e-6 lunar mission successfully returned to Earth on Tuesday, June 25, carrying unprecedented samples from the far side of the moon. The mission’s return was marked by a landing in China’s northern Inner Mongolia region shortly after 2 pm local time.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has praised the groundbreaking mission, referring to it as the country’s “eternal dream” as Beijing aims to solidify its status as a major space power and enhance its space exploration efforts.
Lunar dust and rocks
Reports indicate that the Chang’e-6 mission brought back up to 2 kilograms of moon dust and rocks. Initially, the samples will be analyzed by Chinese scientists before being shared with international researchers.
Enduring extreme conditions
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) reported that the Chang’e-6 mission successfully withstood the severe conditions encountered on the far side of the moon.
Chang’e-6 “withstood the test of high temperature on the far side of the moon,” said the space agency.
Operational challenges
Unlike the Chang’e-5 mission, which collected samples from the moon’s near side, the Chang’e-6 faced additional technical challenges. The probe had to operate without direct communication with Earth, relying instead on the Queqiao-2 satellite, launched in April to support this mission.
Using a drill and a robotic arm, the Chang’e-6 probe gathered soil from the moon’s surface.
The mission also hoisted and planted China’s national flag on the dark side of the moon.