In a remarkable stride towards its ambitious goal of landing astronauts on the moon by 2030, China has made significant progress with its Chang'e-6 lunar mission in 2024.
On May 3, China successfully launched the Chang'e-6 probe, embarking on a historic journey to collect 2 kilograms of samples from the far side of the moon—a feat never accomplished by humans before. This mission not only demonstrates China's growing prowess in space exploration but also sets the stage for future manned lunar landings.
The mission reached a pivotal moment on June 25, when the Chang'e-6 probe safely returned to Earth, landing in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The collected samples, weighing 1,935.3 grams, have already provided scientists with invaluable insights into the moon's geological history.
A groundbreaking study published in Nature on December 19 revealed that the moon's magnetic field experienced a surprising resurgence 2.8 billion years ago, following a significant decline around 3.1 billion years ago. These findings open new avenues for understanding the moon's formation and its magnetic properties.
As China continues to advance its space exploration initiatives, the success of the Chang'e-6 mission serves as a testament to the nation's commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in space. With each milestone achieved, China brings itself one step closer to realizing its dream of a sustained human presence on the moon.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
