In a historic milestone for lunar exploration, China's Chang'e 6 lunar probe successfully returned to Earth today, carrying precious samples from the far side of the moon.
The probe landed in northern China's Inner Mongolian region on Tuesday afternoon, marking a significant achievement in space science.
This mission, led by Chinese scientists, represents the first time humanity has retrieved materials from the little-explored far side of the moon. Unlike the near side, which faces Earth and has been the focus of previous US and Soviet missions, the far side presents a unique opportunity to study untouched geological formations.
Among the anticipated samples are 2.5 million-year-old volcanic rock and other materials that could provide critical insights into the moon's geological history and potential differences between its near and far sides.
Scientists are particularly interested in how the far side's mountainous terrain and impact craters compare to the more familiar, relatively flat landscapes of the near side.
"The return of these samples is a major leap forward in our understanding of the moon's composition and evolution," said Zhang Kejian, head of the China National Space Administration (CNSA). "This achievement demonstrates China's growing capabilities in space exploration and opens new avenues for international collaboration in lunar research."
The Chang'e 6 mission, part of China's ambitious lunar exploration program, follows the successful missions of Chang'e 4 and Chang'e 5, which respectively achieved the first soft landing on the far side of the moon and returned lunar samples to Earth in recent years.
Follow us
