After 53 days of mission, the Chinese probe Chang’e-6 returned to Earth this Tuesday with the first samples in the history of the hidden side of the Moonan achievement that will allow us to better understand the history of the satellite.
The mission, marked by great technical complexity, particularly in communication issues, is one of the most ambitious ever carried out by China in space.
“At 2:07 p.m. (06:07 GMT), the Chang’e-6 return module landed” in a desert area of the Inner Mongolia region in northern China, and “everything is functioning normally,” the company said in a statement. Chinese space agency CNSA.
“This marks the complete success of the mission,” and is above all “the first return to Earth of samples from the far side of the Moon”, the agency congratulated itself.
Two collection methods
The capsule slowly descended thanks to a red and white parachute, before gently touching down next to a Chinese flag planted at its side, according to images broadcast by state television CCTV.
The far side of the Moon is a little explored area, and it is known by this formula because it is invisible from Earth.
It has the particularity that its craters are not as covered by ancient lava flows as those on the side closest to our planet.
The soil and rocks extracted by the Chang’e-6 probe are very promising for research, as They will allow us to know more about the formation and history of this Earth satellite.
The probe was propelled into space on May 3 from the Wenchang launch center in the southern province of Hainan.
About a month later it landed in the South Pole-Aitken basin, one of the largest known impact craters in the solar system, located on the far side of the Moon.
On June 4, the probe successfully took off from the Moon with the samples taken.
The device used two collection methods: a drill to extract samples below the surface and a robotic arm to take more material, this time above the surface.
He also took photographs of the lunar surface and planted a red and yellow Chinese flag on the gray ground on the far side of the satellite.
Rivalry with the USA
China has considerably developed its space programs for about three decades, injecting billions of dollars into the sector to reach the United States, Russia and Europe.
The Asian country placed a device on the far side of the Moon in 2019, in what was then a world first. In 2020, it brought back samples from the near side of the Moon and completed its Beidou satellite navigation system.
In 2021, the Asian giant also sent a small robot to Mars.
China hopes to launch its first manned mission to the Moon by 2030, and plans to build a lunar base.
The United States is engaged in open rivalry with China over lunar programs. Washington plans to send astronauts to the Moon between now and 2026 with its Artemis 3 mission.
Source: Elcomercio
I am a highly experienced and well-connected journalist, with a focus on healthcare news. I have worked for several major news outlets, and currently work as an author at 24 news recorder. My work has been featured in many prestigious publications, and I have a wide network of contacts in the healthcare industry. I am highly passionate about my work, and strive to provide accurate and timely information to my readers.
