In a bold move, China launched the Chang’e-6 mission on Friday, aiming to be the first nation to retrieve rocks and soil from the mysterious far side of the moon. This ambitious endeavor marks another significant step in China’s rapidly growing space program.
The Long March-5 rocket, China’s most powerful launch vehicle, blasted off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center carrying the Chang’e-6 probe. This eight-ton spacecraft will embark on a nearly two-month journey to the South Pole-Aitken Basin, a colossal crater system on the lunar far side that perpetually faces away from Earth.
Upon landing in early June, Chang’e-6 will spend two days collecting a precious cargo of lunar material – approximately two kilograms (4.4 pounds) of rocks and soil. This retrieved treasure trove holds the potential to unlock secrets about the moon’s formation and history.
The mission has garnered international interest, with scientists from France, Italy, Pakistan, and the European Space Agency contributing payloads for the journey. However, due to U.S. restrictions, no American organizations are involved.
The far side of the moon holds a special allure for scientists. Unlike the Earth-facing side, it hasn’t been bombarded by our planet’s geological activity for billions of years, potentially preserving a more pristine record of the moon’s ancient past. The South Pole-Aitken Basin itself is estimated to be around 4 billion years old, offering a chance to study material significantly older than samples previously retrieved.
The success of Chang’e-6 would solidify China’s position as a major space power and open doors for further lunar exploration. The mission’s findings could provide valuable insights into the moon’s composition, evolution, and potential for harboring resources. It could also pave the way for future crewed missions to the lunar far side, a prospect that once belonged solely to the realm of science fiction.