A Chinese probe brought samples from the Moon’s far side back to Earth on Tuesday after concluding a 53-day mission, a first of its kind globally.
The Chang’e-6 spacecraft’s landing module touched down in Inner Mongolia at 2:07 pm (0607 GMT), announced by the China National Space Administration as a triumph.
This mission returned with soil and rocks from the Moon’s far side, which faces away from Earth. This area is highly interesting due to its rough terrain, which is less altered by ancient lava flows than the nearby side. Analyzing these materials could advance our understanding of the Moon’s formation and evolutionary history.
China’s space agency affirmed the mission’s success, noting that the probe functioned without issues. As reported by CCTV, President Xi Jinping praised the mission’s “outstanding contributions,” which the nation and its people celebrated.
Launched from Hainan on May 3, Chang’e-6 landed in the Moon’s South Pole-Aitken Basin a month later. It collected samples using a drill and robotic arm, took photos of the surface, and planted a flag made of basalt.
On June 4, it achieved the first-ever launch from the Moon’s far side, a milestone in lunar exploration, as stated by Xinhua. This launch bolstered national pride, with state media extensively covering the event. Live footage showed the landing and workers approaching the capsule, with one unfurling a Chinese flag.
Xinhua noted that local farmers and herders were evacuated ahead of the landing. A herdsman expressed hope for the continued advancement of China’s space efforts.
However, the mission also sparked misinformation online; some claimed the mission was proof that the U.S. had faked the Apollo Moon landings.
Under Xi’s leadership, China’s space ambitions, dubbed the “space dream,” have accelerated. Beijing has invested significantly in its space program, aiming to match the capabilities of the U.S. and Russia. China’s space efforts include a space station, Moon and Mars rovers, and manned spaceflights.
Despite these advancements, the U.S. has expressed concerns over China’s space program, suggesting it could have military aims and seek space dominance. China plans a crewed Moon mission by 2030 to build a lunar base. The U.S. also has plans to return astronauts to the Moon by 2026 with Artemis 3.
