China’s Chang’e-6 lunar probe has achieved a significant milestone by successfully landing on the far side of the Moon to collect samples, marking a new leap for Beijing’s space program. This mission represents a groundbreaking achievement for the China National Space Administration, as it is the first time that samples will be collected from the rarely explored area of the Moon.
The Chang’e-6 mission is a technically complex 53-day endeavor that began on May 3. The probe descended from its orbit about 200 kilometers above the Moon to search for a suitable landing site. This descent posed certain risks, necessitating precise control procedures to ensure the probe landed on its preset trajectory. The process required the probe’s relative speed to the Moon to be reduced to zero within 15 minutes, utilizing a significant amount of propellant.
Now that the Chang’e-6 probe has successfully landed, it will commence the task of collecting lunar soil and rocks, as well as conducting other experiments in the landing zone. The collection process is expected to be completed within two days using two methods: a drill to gather samples under the surface and a robotic arm to retrieve specimens from the surface.
Scientists believe that the Moon’s dark side, which is invisible from Earth, holds great promise for research due to its lesser coverage by ancient lava flows compared to the near side. Materials collected from the dark side could provide valuable insights into the Moon’s formation. This mission represents a step towards unraveling the mysteries of the Moon’s origin.
Under President Xi Jinping, China has accelerated its “space dream,” pouring substantial resources into its space program to compete with established space powers such as the United States and Russia. Beijing has achieved significant milestones in recent years, including landing robotic rovers on Mars and the Moon, as well as independently sending humans into orbit.
While China’s space program has made remarkable progress, there are concerns from other nations, particularly the United States, about China’s space ambitions. Washington has cautioned that China’s space program may have military objectives and aims to establish dominance in space. Despite geopolitical tensions, international cooperation in space exploration remains essential for advancing scientific knowledge and technological innovation.
China has ambitious plans for future lunar missions, including sending a crewed mission to the Moon by 2030 and establishing a base on the lunar surface. The United States is also planning to return astronauts to the Moon with its Artemis 3 mission by 2026. As nations continue to explore the possibilities of space exploration, collaboration and competition in the realm of outer space will shape the future of human exploration beyond Earth.
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