Chinese Lunar Probe Returns to Earth with Samples from the Far Side of the Moon

The Chinese Chang'e-6 probe, which carried samples from the lesser-known far side of the Moon, successfully returned to Earth on Tuesday, July 5. This 53-day mission marks the first sample collection from the far side of the Moon in the history of global space programs. The Chang'e-6 spacecraft landed in Inner Mongolia, and the China National Space Administration declared the mission a 'complete success.' The side of the Moon that faces away from Earth has preserved its main topographical features better than the Earth-facing side due to the absence of ancient lava flows. Therefore, the samples collected from this side of the Moon could help scientists better understand how the Moon formed and evolved over time. The Chang'e-6 probe, named after the 'Moon Goddess' in Chinese mythology, was launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on May 3 and landed in the 'South Pole-Aitken' region of the Moon about a month later. The probe collected soil and rock samples using its drill and robotic arm, took photographs of the cratered lunar surface, and also planted a basalt Chinese flag on the Moon's soil. On June 4, Chang'e-6 successfully launched samples from the far side of the Moon back into space. Chinese scientists believe that the collected samples include volcanic rocks that are 2.5 billion years old and may contain traces of early meteorite impacts, which could provide valuable information about the early solar system. The return of this probe marks China's sixth successful lunar mission since 2007. Previously, China successfully sent the Chang'e-4 probe to the far side of the Moon in 2019 and brought samples from the near side with the Chang'e-5 probe in 2020. In recent years, Chinese leader Xi Jinping has paid special attention to the country's space program, aiming to make China a leading space power alongside the United States and Russia through significant investments in this field. China has become a global space power by building a space station, landing rovers on Mars and the Moon, and sending astronauts into Earth's orbit. However, the United States believes that China's space program has hidden military objectives and is an effort to dominate space. China aims to send astronauts to the Moon by 2030 and eventually establish a base there. NASA has postponed its crewed lunar mission, Artemis 2, due to technical issues and currently plans to send astronauts to the Moon in 2026. Landing on the Moon is a very challenging task, and in recent years several probes from India, Israel, Japan, and Russia have failed in this endeavor. China has ambitious space plans for the future, intending to launch the Chang'e-7 probe in 2026 for a more detailed study of the Moon's South Pole.