China’s Chang’e-6 mission, which made history on June 25, 2024, successfully landed on Earth and brought with it the first-ever samples of rock and soil taken from the moon’s far side. This unexplored region has mostly escaped previous missions’ notice and is known as the “dark side” due to its constant facing away from Earth.

Targeting the South Pole-Aitken Basin, a massive crater thought to be over 4 billion years old, the Chang’e-6 mission was launched on May 3rd, 2024. Before making landfall on the moon, the unmanned spacecraft flew in space for 53 days, 13 of which were spent in lunar orbit. The Chang’e-6 carefully collected samples before setting off on its return flight, which culminated in an effective landing in Inner Mongolia, China.

For the China National Space Administration (CNSA), this historic accomplishment represents a significant victory. During a televised press conference, CNSA chief Zhang Kejian proclaimed the mission a full success, showcasing China’s increasing capabilities in space exploration. It is anticipated that the recovered samples, which could date back up to 2.5 million years, would provide important new information about the moon’s geological past. According to scientific theory, the samples might include remnants of the youngest active core’s volcanic activity, providing information on the moon’s internal makeup and history.

Science is quite interested in the moon’s far side. The far side features a thicker crust and a very different geological composition than the extensively cratered near side, which is distinguished by broad, dark basaltic plains (maria). Piecing together the moon’s genesis and interaction with Earth requires an understanding of this mismatch. It is believed that the impact that formed the South Pole-Aitken Basin was crucial to the moon’s early formation, and the samples that Chang’e-6 collected may provide insight into this event.

The Chang’e-6 mission’s accomplishment is evidence of China’s expanding space aspirations in addition to being a scientific first. China aims to become a key player in lunar exploration, which is why its space program has been growing quickly in recent years. In order to achieve its goal of having astronauts land on the moon by 2030, China has launched this mission.

Additionally, the Chang’e-6 achievement opens a new chapter in the continuing story of global space exploration. New players like China and India are already expanding our understanding of our planetary neighbor, while the US and the USSR dominated lunar exploration during the Apollo era. Our comprehension of this fascinating celestial body will eventually advance thanks to possible cooperation and knowledge exchange made possible by this renewed attention to the moon on a global scale.

A new era in lunar study has begun with the arrival of the Chang’e-6 samples. The examination of these priceless materials is eagerly anticipated by scientists worldwide in the hopes of discovering their mysteries. The accomplishment of this mission feeds our shared ambition to learn more about the solar system’s secrets while also advancing our knowledge of the moon.