A historic breakthrough has been achieved by China with the landing of its lunar probe Chang’e-6 on the far side of the Moon. This will be a pioneering mission where samples of lunar rock and soil are collected from an area that has never been explored before. The moment of the lander touching down on the surface of the Moon was captured by cameras on board which makes it more dramatic. It happened in the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin early Sunday morning Beijing time through Queqiao-2 relay satellite, after 22:23 GMT Saturday as reported by China National Space Administration (CNSA).
On the achievement, CNSA released a short yet meaningful statement: “The Chang’e-6 lander-ascender has touched down softly this Sunday at the unknown other face of the Moon.” This marks another critical milestone for this pioneering mission. The probe was set off on May 3 and successfully reached lunar orbit on May 8; indeed, all went according to plan with the landing operation.
The Apollo Basin was selected for touchdown due to its rare flat terrain, essential for landing on the rugged far side of the Moon. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) detailed the mission’s goals, which include gathering 2 kg (4.4 lb) of material from the landing site over several days. The probe will utilize a robotic arm for surface sampling and a drill for subsurface soils. The samples will then be transferred to another spacecraft in lunar orbit, with a return to Earth expected around June 25 in Inner Mongolia.
This mission follows China’s 2019 Chang’e-5 mission, which successfully landed on the Moon’s near side. For Chang’e-6, the CNSA noted the precise landing process, which involved hovering 100 meters above the surface, using laser 3D scanning to detect obstacles, and descending vertically at a slow speed. Upon nearing the lunar surface, the engine was shut down, and a buffer system ensured a soft landing.
The successful landing and upcoming sample collection represent a significant leap for lunar exploration, showcasing China’s advancing capabilities in space technology.