The Chinese probe Chang’e-6 successfully took off from the Moon carrying samples taken on the far side of the Earth’s satellite, the state press of that country reported this Tuesday (06/04/2024).
“The ascension module of China’s Chang’e-6 probe lifted off from the lunar surface on Tuesday morning, carrying samples collected on the far side of the Moon,” state news agency Xinhua said, citing the National Administration. China Space Agency (CNSA).
This media defines it as “an unprecedented milestone in the history of human exploration of the Moon.”
The Chang’e-6 probe landed on Sunday in the immense Aitken basin, one of the largest known impact craters in the solar system, located on the far side of the satellite, according to the CNSA.
A complex 53-day mission
The ship, which began a complex 53-day mission on May 3, has a robotic arm to collect material from the surface and a drill to take samples from its interior.
Once this material was collected, “a Chinese national flag carried by the lunar landing module was displayed for the first time on the far side of the Moon,” Xinhua said.
Scientists consider that this part of the Moon, never visible from Earth, has great potential for research because its craters are not as covered by ancient lava flows as those on the side closest to the planet.
The material collected by the Chinese probe may also provide clues about how the Moon was formed.
jc (afp, reuters)
