Fifty years have passed since Neil Armstrong’s historic moonwalk on July 20, 1969, captivating the world and igniting our enduring fascination with the Moon. Today, China marks a significant milestone in lunar exploration with its Chang’e-6 mission, a global first that has collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the moon’s far side.
The mission faced daunting challenges, notably in establishing communication with Earth from this remote lunar location. To overcome this hurdle, China launched the Queqiao-2 relay satellite in March, which provided essential communication support for Chang’e-6.
Unlike previous lunar missions that focused on the near side, Chang’e-6 ventured to the far side of the Moon. This pioneering effort promises to deepen our understanding of Earth’s celestial neighbor. Li Chunlai, deputy chief designer of the mission, highlighted the significance of the mission’s achievement: “By sampling from a vast impact basin, Chang’e-6 has obtained materials from the moon’s deep layers, including the lunar mantle—an invaluable resource that sheds light on the moon’s internal structure and material composition.”
These samples are poised to unravel mysteries surrounding the moon’s formation and evolution, offering insights into the early history of our solar system and advancing comparative planetology. China’s successful mission marks a pivotal moment in lunar exploration, paving the way for future scientific endeavors and furthering humanity’s quest to unravel the cosmos.