China's Moon Mission 2024: Chang'e-6 Returns with Samples, What Secrets Could Be Revealed?
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| China's Moon Mission 2024 |
China's Chang'e-6 spacecraft returned on Tuesday with samples from a distant part of the Moon that can never be seen from Earth. This mission marks the first successful attempt of its kind.
The lander touched down on the Moon's surface on June 1 and used a robotic arm and drill to collect rock and soil samples from the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin. This basin is one of the oldest and largest craters on the Moon, with a diameter of 2,500 kilometers. The lander spent two days there.
After collecting the samples, the lander launched an ascent module, which transferred the samples to the Chang'e-6 orbiter orbiting the Moon. The orbiter released a service module on June 21, which brought the samples back to Earth.
Apollo 11 Mission Also Brought Back Rocks and Soil
This is not the first time samples from the Moon have been brought back to Earth. In July 1969, the United States' Apollo 11 mission brought back 22 kilograms of material from the Moon's surface, including 50 rocks. In September 1970, the Soviet Luna 16 mission also brought back samples from the Moon.
In recent years, before Chang'e-6, the Chang'e-5 mission in December 2020 brought back two kilograms of soil from the Moon. However, these samples were from the near side of the Moon. The far side of the Moon, which never faces Earth, is quite challenging to access. The large craters and communication difficulties with ground control make it technically challenging to land a spacecraft there.
China's Major Achievement
In 2019, Chang'e-4 overcame these difficulties and landed the Yutu-2 rover on the far side of the Moon. Now, Chang'e-6 has not only landed in the far region but also returned with samples. This is a significant achievement for China.
India's Chandrayaan-4 mission, which is being prepared by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will also be a sample return mission. Chandrayaan-3 landed about 600 kilometers from the Moon's south pole.
Why Are the Two Sides of the Moon Different?
Geologically, the Moon's near and far sides are distinct from one another. It features fewer plains, more craters, and a thicker crust. Scientists have not yet figured out why the two sides of the Moon are so different. The analysis of samples brought back by Chang'e-6 is expected to shed some light on this mystery.
The samples collected from the SPA Basin could also help determine the timeline of lunar cratering and provide insights into the Moon's history and possibly its origin.
Possibility of Ice at the Moon's Poles
The collected samples could suggest ways to utilize lunar resources for future Moon and space exploration. There is a possibility of ice at the Moon's poles, which could provide water, oxygen, and hydrogen. Rocket propellant could be made from hydrogen and oxygen.
In 2023, India, China, Japan, the United States, and Russia have initiated lunar missions. According to the European Space Agency, more than 100 lunar missions are expected to be launched by governments and private companies by 2030.
Path for Astronauts to the Moon
Countries like China and the United States aim to send astronauts to the Moon by 2030. The success of Chang'e-6 is seen as a crucial step by China towards achieving this goal.
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