China retrieves nearly 2 kg of lunar samples from far side
China’s Chang’e 6 robotic probe accomplished an extraordinary feat by retrieving nearly 2 kilograms (1,935.3 grams) of lunar samples from the far side of the moon. This mission marked the world’s first attempt to bring samples back from the lunar far side, a region that had never been explored until the Chang’e 4 probe landed there in 2019.
The mission began on May 3 when the 8.35-ton spacecraft, consisting of an orbiter, lander, ascender, and reentry capsule, was launched aboard a Long March 5 heavy-lift carrier rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province. After a series of complex maneuvers, the lander touched down at the South Pole-Aitken Basin, one of the largest known impact craters in the solar system, on June 2.
During its 49-hour operation on the lunar far side, the lander utilized a mechanical arm and a drill to collect surface and underground materials. Several scientific instruments were also activated to conduct surveys and analyses. Once the tasks were completed, the sample-loaded ascender lifted off from the lunar surface and reached lunar orbit to dock with the reentry capsule, transferring the precious samples.
In the final leg of the mission, the orbiter and the reentry capsule flew back to Earth orbit before separating above Earth’s atmosphere. The reentry capsule successfully touched down on its preset landing site in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Tuesday, delivering the invaluable lunar samples to Earth.
Current section: Sample Collection and Analysis
The lunar samples collected by the Chang’e 6 mission are scientifically invaluable and hold unique significance. They represent the first materials ever recovered from the lunar far side, a region that has remained largely unexplored until now.
These samples will provide researchers with a wealth of information about the moon’s history and composition, potentially shedding light on the formation and evolution of Earth’s natural satellite. Additionally, the analysis of these samples could aid in the exploration and exploitation of lunar resources, paving the way for future lunar missions and potential human settlements on the moon.
Upon returning to Earth, the lunar samples were carefully contained in a special container and handed over by Zhang Kejian, head of the China National Space Administration, to Ding Chibiao, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, during a ceremony at the space administration’s Beijing headquarters. The samples will now be transported to a lunar sample laboratory in Beijing, where they will be stored and undergo initial processing.
The China National Space Administration has emphasized that these lunar samples are a “shared treasure” of humanity, highlighting their scientific importance and the potential for international collaboration in their study and analysis.
The collection of lunar samples from the far side of the moon by China’s Chang’e 6 mission involved a series of intricate and challenging operations. Upon landing in the South Pole-Aitken Basin, one of the largest known impact craters in the solar system, the lander deployed its mechanical arm and drill to meticulously gather surface and underground materials.
Surface samples were collected by the mechanical arm, which carefully scooped up lunar regolith – the loose, powdery material that covers the lunar surface. These surface samples provide insights into the composition and weathering processes of the lunar soil in this unexplored region.
To obtain underground samples, the lander utilized a specialized drill to bore into the lunar surface. By extracting material from beneath the surface layer, scientists can study the composition and formation of the lunar crust in the South Pole-Aitken Basin, which may differ from other regions of the moon due to the massive impact event that formed the crater.
In addition to the sample collection, the lander carried a suite of scientific instruments that were activated during its 49-hour operation on the lunar far side. These instruments included:
- Spectrometers to analyze the chemical composition of the lunar surface
- Imaging systems to capture high-resolution photographs and topographic maps
- Radiation detectors to measure the level of cosmic radiation on the lunar far side
- Seismometers to detect any moonquakes or other seismic activity
The data collected by these instruments, in conjunction with the lunar samples, will provide a comprehensive understanding of the lunar far side’s geological, chemical, and environmental characteristics.
Once the sample collection and analysis tasks were completed, the ascender module containing the precious lunar samples detached from the lander and lifted off from the lunar surface. It then rendezvoused with the orbiter module in lunar orbit, where the samples were transferred to the reentry capsule for their journey back to Earth.
