BEIJING, June 28, 2024 (Xinhua) — Researchers weigh lunar samples from Chang’e-6 during an opening ceremony of the return module at the China Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation in Beijing, capital of China, June 26, 2024. China’s Chang’e-6 mission has returned 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the moon, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced Friday. Zhang Kejian, director of the CNSA, handed over the sample container to Ding Chibiao, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with the sample certificate at a ceremony in Beijing. Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong presided over the handover ceremony. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) — China’s Chang’e-6 mission has collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the moon, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced Friday.
Zhang Kejian, director of the CNSA, handed over the sample container to Ding Chibiao, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with the sample certificate at a ceremony in Beijing.
Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong presided over the handover ceremony.
According to preliminary calculations, the Chang’e-6 mission collected 1,935.3 grams of lunar samples, the CNSA said.
“We have found that the samples brought back by Chang’e-6 are more viscous compared to the previous ones, with the presence of lumps. These are observable characteristics,” Ge Ping, deputy director of the Lunar Exploration Center, told reporters at the ceremony. and Space Engineering of the CNSA, who is also the spokesperson for the Chang’e-6 mission.
The researchers will then carry out the storage and processing of the lunar samples as planned and begin scientific research work.
The samples, the first to be collected from the far side of the Moon in human history, have unique scientific significance as they will further enhance the understanding of lunar evolution, accelerate the pace of peaceful exploration and utilization of lunar resources, and serve as an important asset for all mankind.
CNSA pledged to continue to uphold the spirit of lunar exploration, featuring “pursuing dreams, daring to explore, collaborating to overcome challenges, and achieving win-win cooperation”, to ensure proper sample management.
The agency said it will organize scientific research on the samples and share China’s lunar exploration achievements with the international community.
Based on the lunar sample management rules released by the CNSA and the experience in handling requests for lunar samples collected by the Chang’e-5 mission, requests for Chang’e-6 samples are expected to be opened to domestic research institutions and scientists in about six months, Ge said.
Regarding international applications, Ge noted that China has always maintained a positive and open attitude, and welcomes scientists from all countries to submit applications in accordance with relevant procedures.
Significant scientific successes have previously been achieved through in-depth investigation of lunar samples returned by the Chang’e-5 mission, in areas such as lunar formation and evolution, space weathering and resource utilization, according to the CNSA.
Researchers have published more than 80 achievements in leading national and international journals, including the discovery of the new lunar mineral Changesite-(Y), the sixth discovered on the Moon, and the “youngest” basalt on the Moon, which was determined to have about 2 billion years and extended the “life” of lunar volcanism between 800 and 900 million years longer than previously known.
The Chang’e-6 probe was launched into orbit on May 3. The return module, carrying the lunar samples, landed precisely in the flag-designated area of Siziwang in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on June 25, marking the conclusion of a mission that It was declared a total success.
The Chang’e-6 return module was subsequently transported safely to Beijing. Researchers opened it and removed the lunar sample container on Wednesday, according to the CNSA.
BEIJING, June 28, 2024 (Xinhua) — Researchers load Chang’e-6 lunar samples onto a rover at the end of an opening ceremony for the return module at the China Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation in Beijing, capital of China, June 26, 2024. China’s Chang’e-6 mission has returned 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the moon, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced Friday. Zhang Kejian, director of the CNSA, handed over the sample container to Ding Chibiao, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with the sample certificate at a ceremony in Beijing. Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong presided over the handover ceremony. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
BEIJING, June 28, 2024 (Xinhua) — Researchers prepare to weigh lunar samples from Chang’e-6 during an opening ceremony of the return module at the China Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation in Beijing, capital of China, June 26, 2024. China’s Chang’e-6 mission has returned 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the moon, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced Friday. Zhang Kejian, director of the CNSA, handed over the sample container to Ding Chibiao, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with the sample certificate at a ceremony in Beijing. Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong presided over the handover ceremony. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
BEIJING, June 28, 2024 (Xinhua) — Researchers weigh lunar samples from Chang’e-6 during an opening ceremony of the return module at the China Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation in Beijing, capital of China, June 26, 2024. China’s Chang’e-6 mission has returned 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the moon, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced Friday. Zhang Kejian, director of the CNSA, handed over the sample container to Ding Chibiao, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with the sample certificate at a ceremony in Beijing. Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong presided over the handover ceremony. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
BEIJING, June 28, 2024 (Xinhua) — Researchers place the Chang’e-6 lunar sample container into a protective case after an opening ceremony for the return module at the China Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation in Beijing, capital of China, June 26, 2024. China’s Chang’e-6 mission has returned 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the moon, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced Friday. Zhang Kejian, director of the CNSA, handed over the sample container to Ding Chibiao, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with the sample certificate at a ceremony in Beijing. Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong presided over the handover ceremony. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
BEIJING, June 28, 2024 (Xinhua) — Zhang Kejian (L), director of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), and Ding Chibiao, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), unveil the sample container during the Chang’e-6 lunar sample handover ceremony in Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2024. China’s Chang’e-6 mission has collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the moon, the CNSA announced Friday. Zhang Kejian, director of the CNSA, handed over the sample container to Ding Chibiao, vice president of the CAS, along with the sample certificate at a ceremony in Beijing. Minister of Industry and Information Technology Jin Zhuanglong presided over the handover ceremony. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
