Unveiled Photos Transmitted by China's Chang'e-6 Lunar Probe from the Moon's Hidden Side

China's Chang'e-6 Mission Returns Lunar Samples, Marking Significant Achievement in Space Exploration

China's Chang'e-6 probe has successfully landed on the far side of the Moon and collected nearly two kilograms of lunar samples, marking the second mission to return lunar samples to Earth and a significant achievement in China's space exploration history.

The Chang'e-6 probe, launched on May 3, touched down in the Aitken Basin at the lunar south pole on December 1, 2020. The success of the mission involved international cooperation, including teams from the European Space Agency (ESA), France, Italy, and Pakistan.

The Chang'e-6 probe has been in lunar orbit since its arrival and is expected to perform maneuvers before returning to Earth at the end of June. The samples collected by Chang'e-6 will be crucial for studying the formation and historical evolution of the Moon, as well as potentially shedding light on the origins of the solar system.

China has been dedicated to studying the far side of the Moon, with the Chang'e-4 mission initially exploring the region in 2018. The far side of the Moon, which is visible only from space and not from Earth due to the synchronous rotation of the Moon with our planet, has always been a subject of fascination and speculation within the scientific community.

The first images captured by Chang'e-6 were shared by Chinese media just days after its arrival, providing a glimpse of the lunar landscape on the far side of the Moon. The Chang'e-6 probe also deployed the Chinese national flag on the lunar surface, further symbolizing China's commitment to space exploration.

In addition to the international cooperation on the Chang'e-6 mission, various foreign scientific institutions will receive lunar samples for research, although specific countries or organizations are not detailed in the available data. The analysis of these samples could potentially provide valuable insights into the Moon's history and the origins of the solar system.

The Chang'e-6 landing is a significant milestone in China's space exploration journey, following the successful Chang'e-5 mission in 2018, which focused on Mons Rümker, a volcanic plain in the Ocean of Storms. As China continues to push the boundaries of space exploration, the Chang'e-6 mission marks an exciting step forward in our understanding of the Moon and the solar system as a whole.

Unveiled Photos Transmitted by China's Chang'e-6 Lunar Probe from the Moon's Hidden Side