A Chinese spacecraft carrying samples from the far side of the Moon has successfully landed back on Earth after a 53-day mission, reported by Chinese state TV CCTV. This marks China as the first country capable of collecting lunar samples from the previously unexplored region of the Moon.
The Chang’e-6 spacecraft landed in Inner Mongolia, Northern China, with precious gifts in the form of soil and rocks from the far side of Earth’s natural satellite. The Beijing Space Agency had announced the return of the probe on June 25 without giving a specific arrival time. The orbiter released the reentry module with samples into Earth’s orbit before landing successfully at the planned area.
Scientists are excited about this achievement as it provides an opportunity to study the little-known region of the Moon, which could offer valuable insights into its formation and evolution over time. The mission was considered advanced and showcased technical complexity, making it a world first.
Chang’e-6 was launched from Hainan province’s space center on May 3 and made its descent into the Moon’s South Pole-Aitken Basin nearly a month later, collecting samples and taking photos of the surface. This historic mission has opened up new possibilities for lunar exploration and research, showcasing China’s capabilities in space exploration. The samples collected from the far side of the Moon could hold valuable information that may help scientists better understand
