China's Chang'e 6 probe launched with first samples from the back of the moon
China wants to bring rock and soil samples from the far side of the moon to Earth for the first time. A particularly difficult stage has now been mastered.
The far side of the moon
(Image: NASA)
As part of the Chinese lunar mission Chang'e 6, part of the probe with soil and rock samples on board has been launched and will now be the first samples ever to be brought back to Earth from the far side of the Earth's satellite. This was announced by the Chinese space agency, reports the Xinhua news agency. The samples were taken not only with a robotic arm on the surface, but also with a drill from a deeper layer. The ascent module with the samples on board lifted off on Tuesday night and later reached its planned orbit around the moon. It will now return to the orbiter and then fly back to Earth with a special return probe, where it could land at the end of June.
Chinese flag unfurled
With the successful launch from the moon, China has added another milestone to its space program. Chang'e 6 landed on the far side of the moon at the weekend and then set to work. Not only were the historical samples taken, but the various scientific instruments were also successfully put into operation. These included a device from the European Space Agency (ESA) and a measuring instrument from France. After the samples were taken, a Chinese flag was unfurled, according to reports. During the subsequent launch, the ascent module was supported by a special communications satellite that had been sent to the moon before the mission.
The equipment had withstood the high temperatures on the far side of the moon, China's space agency explained. Because the control center on Earth cannot maintain direct contact with the lunar probe, the ascent module had to align itself independently for its launch. Of course, there was also no launch pad like on Earth. Nevertheless, everything apparently went off without a hitch. Moon landings are considered to be quite difficult; the last time a Russian attempt failed, for example, a privately organized mission did not even reach the Earth's satellite. On the other hand, India and Japan had both succeeded in making their first landings.
Chang'e 6 was launched from the Wenchang spaceport on the southern Chinese island of Hainan at the beginning of May. After around four days, the spacecraft entered lunar orbit and had been waiting for a favorable time to land. At the weekend, the lander reached its target area at the moon's largest and oldest impact crater in the so-called South Pole-Aitken Basin. The samples taken there will now provide insights into the formation of the moon, our Earth and the early days of our solar system. Before they can be examined, however, they must first be brought back to Earth in one piece.
(mho)