China has made history by being the first country to gather samples from the mysterious farside of the moon. This groundbreaking achievement is expected to provide valuable insights into the moon’s history and formation. Using innovative technology, the Chang’e-6 mission successfully collected 2 kilograms of lunar material during its two-day stay on the farside. The samples were then loaded into an ascent vehicle that launched into lunar orbit on June 3, with plans to return to Earth on June 25 in Inner Mongolia.
This remarkable feat marks China’s second successful landing on the farside, following the Chang’e-4 mission in 2019. Scientists are eagerly anticipating the analysis of these samples, as they could hold the key to understanding the stark differences between the moon’s two sides. The side facing Earth is rich in evidence of ancient volcanism, while the farside shows minimal volcanic activity.
Kerri Donaldson Hanna, a planetary geologist at the University of Central Florida, expressed excitement about the potential discoveries that could be made from these farside samples. This mission opens up new possibilities for lunar research and could shed light on the mysteries of our celestial neighbor. For more information, you can visit the original article on www.sciencenews.org.