China's Chang'e-6 mission made a historic touchdown on the far side of the moon on Sunday morning, marking a significant milestone in global lunar exploration. The successful landing has garnered praise from foreign scientists who participated in the mission, expressing their excitement and gratitude towards China for facilitating this groundbreaking achievement.
The Chang'e-6 mission is a testament to international cooperation in space exploration, featuring four payloads developed through collaborative efforts. Among these are the DORN (Detection of Outgassing Radon) from the French Space Agency, NILS (The Negative Ions at the Lunar Surface) from the European Space Agency, and a retroreflector from Italy. These sophisticated instruments are set to conduct a variety of scientific investigations on the moon's far side.
The DORN instrument will delve into the behavior of radon, a noble gas, as it escapes from the lunar regolith. This research aims to understand the transport mechanisms of radioactive gases and other materials, such as water, within the moon's exosphere. Meanwhile, NILS will measure solar winds reflected from the lunar surface, providing valuable data on their interaction with the moon's environment. The retroreflector's primary function is to precisely measure the distance between Earth and the moon, enhancing our understanding of lunar geography and movement.
In addition to these international payloads, the Chang'e-6 probe also carried Pakistan's CubeSat, known as ICUBE-Q. This small satellite separated from the Chang'e-6 orbiter on May 8 and has been actively capturing detailed images of the moon, contributing to the mission's overall scientific objectives.
The collaborative nature of the Chang'e-6 mission highlights the power of global partnerships in advancing space exploration. By merging expertise from various countries, the mission not only broadens our knowledge of the moon but also fosters a spirit of international unity and shared achievement in the realm of science and technology.
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Foreign scientists thank China for role in Chang'e-6 lunar mission
cgtn.com
