China’s Chang’e-6 mission collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the Moon, based on weighing the container that arrived on Earth on June 25. “We have discovered that the samples brought back by Chang’e-6 were more viscous compared to previous samples, with the presence of lumps. “These are observable characteristics,” said Ge Ping, deputy director of the Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center of the CNSA (China National Space Administration) and spokesman for the Chang’e-6 mission.
After the return of the container, the researchers will proceed to the storage and processing of the lunar samples as planned, and will begin scientific research work, Xinhua reported.
These lunar samples, collected for the first time from the far side of the Moon, have a special scientific significance. They will improve the understanding of lunar evolution, accelerate the peaceful exploration and utilization of lunar resources, and be a valuable resource for humanity, according to the CNSA.
The CNSA plans to organize scientific research on the samples and share the results of lunar exploration with the international community. Based on the lunar sample management rules released by the CNSA and previous experience with samples collected by the Chang’e-5 mission, applications for access to samples from Chang’e-6 are expected to be accepted. open to research institutions and domestic scientists in about six months, Ge said.
Regarding international requests, Ge stated that China has always maintained a positive and open attitude, and welcomes scientists from all over the world to submit applications following the relevant procedures.
Previously, they achieved important scientific advances Through research on lunar samples brought back by the Chang’e-5 mission, in areas such as lunar formation and evolution, space weathering, and resource utilization, researchers have published more than 80 studies in domestic 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, dated to about two billion years old, which extended the “lifetime” of lunar volcanism by 800 to 900 million years longer than previously known.
The Chang’e-6 probe was launched into orbit on May 3. Its return module, carrying the lunar samples, landed in its designated area in northern China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on June 25, marking a complete success for the mission.
The Chang’e-6 return module arrived safely in Beijing later. Researchers opened the module and successfully collected the lunar sample container on Wednesday, according to the CNSA. This mission not only represents A milestone in Chinese lunar explorationbut also underlines China’s commitment to global scientific collaboration and contribution to collective knowledge about our natural satellite.
