China was the first country to use a space probe to collect and transport rock samples from the far side of our moon. The ascent module of the “Chang’e-6” probe lifted off from Earth’s satellite on Tuesday morning (Beijing time) with the samples on board.
Moments later, the probe orbited the moon, as the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) announced. It was said to take samples under the surface of the Earth’s satellite with a borehole and collect rocks from the bottom of the moon.
The devices taken along, such as those from the European Space Agency or one from France, had fulfilled their tasks as expected, the report said. At the end, the probe unfurled a Chinese flag.
Launching from the moon was extremely difficult
The mission withstood the high temperatures on the far side of the moon, the CNSA said. The launch from the moon was especially difficult. Due to the probe’s location on the moon, the control center on Earth cannot maintain direct contact with it and relies on the “Queqiao-2” relay satellite. The ascent module therefore had to align itself independently before take-off.
According to CNSA, the space capsule will now dock in lunar orbit with the orbiter and return vehicle and begin the journey back to Earth. The experts plan to land in China’s northern province of Inner Mongolia, possibly in late June.
It would be the first time in human history that soil and rock samples would be brought to Earth from the far side of the moon. Scientists expect a lot from exploring the far side of the moon, because the surface is not largely covered in lava. Rocks from the back could provide better information about the formation of Earth’s satellite.
In early May, “Chang’e-6” launched its mission from Wenchang Spaceport on South China’s Hainan Island. After just over four days of flying, the probe entered lunar orbit and circled Earth’s satellite to find a suitable time and place for landing.
“Chang’e-6” landed in an impact crater
On Sunday it reached the moon’s largest and oldest impact crater in the so-called South Pole-Aitken Basin. Researchers have long wanted to obtain rock samples from this region because they could potentially provide information about the formation of the moon, Earth, and also the early history of the solar system.
Moon landing attempts are considered extremely difficult, as evidenced by recent failed attempts by India, Israel, Japan and Russia. The Earth’s satellite has become interesting again for many countries because it is believed that valuable raw materials are present there.
China has been investing billions of dollars in its ambitious space program for years and is also keen to catch up with the US in this area. China wants to send a manned mission to the moon by 2030.
Source: Krone
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