In a remarkable milestone for lunar exploration, China is set to return two kilograms of rare moonstones to Earth by the end of June. The Chang’e 6 probe successfully landed on the far side of the Moon, specifically in the Apollo Crater, at walking speed on a Sunday morning Finnish time.
The Apollo Crater is situated on the far side of the Moon, an area never visible from Earth, within the giant Aitken Basin near the Moon’s south pole. This successful landing marks the second time China has reached this uncharted territory, following its Chang’e 4 mission in January 2019.
China has been able to explore this previously unexplored region and capture images and collect samples for research purposes. The Chang’e 6 mission took about four days to enter lunar orbit and select a suitable landing site within the Apollo Crater. Once landed, it spent several days exploring this new environment and collecting samples before sending them back to Earth.
This historic mission brings back rocks and dust from a region that no one had ever explored before, providing researchers with valuable insights into the Moon’s composition and geological history. It also paves the way for future manned missions to our neighboring planet.
Aside from its scientific goals, China is also preparing for future lunar missions, with plans for Chang’e 7 in 2026 and Chang’e 8 to explore resource utilization on the Moon’s south pole. The long-term goal is to send Chinese astronauts to walk on these previously unseen surfaces before 2030, in line with similar ambitions from other space agencies around the world.
Overall, China’s return of moonstones marks a significant milestone in lunar exploration that will provide scientists with important data about our closest celestial neighbor.
