What To Know
- Having successfully placed the orbiter in lunar orbit, the mission is now preparing for its planned landing in early June in the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin, a lunar region of major geological importance.
- NASA Goddard The choice of the landing area is of paramount importance, as the South Pole-Aitken basin is one of the largest and oldest impact craters on the Moon.
- Comparing the samples collected by this mission with those from the visible side of the Moon, notably thanks to the Apollo missions, will also allow scientists to better understand the geological differences between the two sides of the Moon.
China‘s Chang’e 6 robotic mission marks a significant step forward in space exploration with its ambitious goal of collecting samples from the far side of the Moon. Having successfully placed the orbiter in lunar orbit, the mission is now preparing for its planned landing in early June in the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin, a lunar region of major geological importance.
China can still make history
The mission Chang’e 4 China had marked a historic milestone in space exploration by achieving the First successful landing on the far side of the Moon January 3, 2019. The rover Yutu-2carrying several scientific instruments, was then deployed to explore the lunar surface and collect data on geology, soil composition and the magnetic field. China is now preparing for a second landing on the far side of the Moon as part of its Chang’e 6 mission. This time, the goal is even more ambitious, since it will involve collect samples in situ with the aim of bringing them back to Earth. If successful, it will be a first.
The details of the mission
Chinese multi-component ship set to land early June in the South Pole-Aitken Basin (SPA). Chang’e 6 is currently waiting for optimal lighting conditions in the area and scouting for the best landing sites in or around the Apollo Basin, which is located within the SPA. Chang’e 6 will then land a lander equipped with an ascent vehicle on the lunar surface, while a spacecraft will remain in orbit around the Moon. Within 48 hours of landing, a robotic arm will be deployed to collect samples, while a drill will drill into the lunar surface to gather geological information. These samples will then be placed in the ascent vehicle, which will rendezvous with the orbiting spacecraft before it begins its return journey. After about five days of flight, a return capsule will then break through Earth’s atmosphere and land in the Siziwang Banner region of Inner Mongolia in northern China.
The Moon’s South Pole-Aitken basin is immense. Credits: NASA Goddard The choice of the landing area is of paramount importance, as the South Pole-Aitken basin is one of the largest and oldest impact craters on the Moon. One candidate area, known as the “cryptomare,” is located south of the Apollo Basin. This region, partially obscured by craters and other geological features, offers a considerable scientific potential to better understand the thermal history of the far side of the Moon. Comparing the samples collected by this mission with those from the visible side of the Moon, notably thanks to the Apollo missions, will also allow scientists to better understand the geological differences between the two sides of the Moon.
