China’s Chang’e 6 probe successfully returned to Earth with rock and soil samples from the far side of the moon, a global first. The probe landed in the Inner Mongolian region on Tuesday afternoon.
“This marks the complete success of the Chang’e 6 Lunar Exploration Mission,” announced Zhang Kejian, Director of the China National Space Administration.
The samples are expected to include 2.5 million-year-old volcanic rock and other materials that will help scientists understand the geological differences between the moon’s near and far sides. The far side, characterized by mountains and craters, contrasts with the near side’s flat expanses.
The probe collected samples from the South Pole-Aitken Basin, a massive impact crater over 4 billion years old. These samples will offer insights into the moon’s geological history and activity.
This mission marks the first time any nation has retrieved samples from the moon’s far side. Richard de Grijs, a professor of astrophysics, highlighted the significance of this achievement.
China’s lunar program is part of a broader rivalry with other space-faring nations, including the U.S., Japan, and India. President Xi Jinping praised the mission as a “landmark achievement” in China’s quest to become a leading space power.
The Chang’e 6 mission, launched on May 3, lasted 53 days. The probe drilled into the moon’s core and collected surface rocks.
Geologist Zongyu Yue emphasized that the samples could answer fundamental questions about lunar geology, particularly the differences between the moon’s two sides.
China plans to share the samples with international scientists, furthering global lunar research efforts.