China’s Chang’e-6 lunar far side sample return spacecraft successfully entered orbit around the moon on Tuesday in a historic achievement. The spacecraft completed a crucial braking burn to allow it to be captured by the moon’s gravity before beginning its mission to collect samples from the far side of the moon.
This groundbreaking mission marks the first-ever attempt to collect samples from the far side of the moon. The spacecraft is expected to land in the ancient South Pole-Aitken Basin, where sampling operations are scheduled to be completed within 48 hours of landing.
Chang’e-6 is not only a Chinese endeavor, as it also carries international payloads from countries such as France, Sweden, Italy, and Pakistan. In addition to the sample collection, the spacecraft also carries a rover and instruments to detect radon outgassing, among other scientific objectives.
This mission is just one part of China’s broader lunar exploration goals, which include future missions to the south pole of the moon and the eventual establishment of a permanent lunar base. China aims to launch its first crewed lunar mission by 2030 and plans to establish the International Lunar Research Station program in the 2030s.
The successful entry of Chang’e-6 into lunar orbit marks a significant milestone in China’s ambitious space exploration efforts and paves the way for further discoveries and advancements in lunar research. Stay tuned for more updates on this historic mission as it progresses.
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