The arrival on the planet of the samples collected on the far side of the Moon is expected starting from tomorrow (25); This is the expectation of China’s Chang’e-6 mission
As of Tuesday (25th), the first rock samples from the far side of the Moon are expected to arrive on Earth any time soon. This is the prediction of the Chinese space mission that sent, more than 50 days ago, the Chang’e-6 probe for the little explored region.
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Last Friday (21), the China National Space Administration (CNSA) reported that the Chinese Chang’e-6 spacecraft had already completed more than 70% of its journey. Unless unforeseen circumstances arise, the first batch of lunar samples, collected on the far side of the Moon, should arrive soon.
It is known that the capsule will land in the deserts of Inner Mongolia, an autonomous region in northern China. However, precise details, such as the time, were not shared.
Dark side of the moon
Before starting its journey home, China’s Chang’e-6 mission spent two days collecting samples of rocks and lunar dust. For this, a mechanical arm and a drill were used.
In total, the capsule must contain 2 kg of lunar material. All these samples were taken from the South Pole-Aitken Basin, one of the largest impact craters in the Solar System. This is where the probe landed on the far side of the Moon.
It’s worth noting that China is the first (and only) country to land in this lunar region. With these skills it is already planning other missions in the same location, such as Chang’e-7 in 2026.
Chang’e-6 lunar mission
On May 3, the Chang’e-6 probe was launched into space from Hainan province, in southern China, demonstrating the technological progress of the Asian giant in the field of space exploration.
On June 2 the probe landed and began collecting soil samples from the far side of the Moon. On June 4, the vehicle lifted off from the lunar surface on its way back, carrying the precious cargo.
During this trip, the Chang’e 6 lander was observed by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), from NASA. This is a robotic spacecraft, known to orbit and observe the Moon:
Our Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spotted the Chinese Chang’e 6 lander on the edge of a 50-meter eroded crater within the Moon’s Apollo basin. Chang’e 6 landed on the far side of the Moon on June 1, and LRO captured an image of the lander on June 7. https://t.co/d3Mmi2ad3D pic.twitter.com/YhKuwzS7VE
— NASA Moon (@NASAMoon) June 14, 2024
Source: CCTV
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Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
