China's Chang'e-6 lunar probe made history on June 1, 2024, by successfully landing on the far side of the moon. This marks a significant achievement for China's space program and is the first time samples will be collected from this rarely explored area of our celestial neighbor.
The Chang'e-6 probe descended from its orbit above the moon to scour its surface for a suitable landing site. Huang Wu, an official at China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, mentioned that precise control procedures were necessary due to the risks involved in the descent. After landing, it will attempt to collect lunar soil and rocks using a drill and robotic arm.
The far side of the moon is particularly intriguing because it holds great promise for research. Scientists believe that material from this area may shed light on how the Moon formed, as its craters are less covered by ancient lava flows than those on the near side. The Chang'e-6 mission aims to collect samples and conduct experiments in this landing zone.
The Chang'e-6 probe began its 53-day mission on May 3, 2024. It faced several challenges during its descent, including precise orbit reduction speed control and the need for a large amount of propellant to reach zero velocity within minutes. Despite these challenges, the probe successfully landed in the South Pole-Aitken Basin.
China has been investing heavily in its space program over the past decade, targeting ambitious undertakings such as building a space station called Tiangong and landing robotic rovers on Mars and the Moon. The United States is also planning to put astronauts back on the Moon by 2026 with its Artemis 3 mission.
The far side of the moon, also known as the 'dark side,' is not actually dark but rather refers to its lack of communication with Earth due to radio waves being blocked by thick rock. This makes it a challenging area for exploration and research, making China's successful landing even more impressive.
