In a significant milestone for space exploration, Chinese scientists are gearing up to study the world's first lunar samples from the moon's far side. These groundbreaking samples were collected as part of the Chang'e-6 mission and have been successfully transferred to a re-entry vehicle on Thursday, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
The ascender of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe achieved an unmanned rendezvous and docking with the orbiter-returner combination in lunar orbit. This marks the second successful maneuver of its kind for China, following the groundbreaking success of the Chang'e-5 mission in 2020.
Located in Beijing, the National Astronomical Observatories' Lunar Sample Laboratory is fully equipped to handle the delicate process of sample analysis. The laboratory features designated rooms for unsealing samples, a middle room for samples collected by the Chang'e-5 probe, and an innermost room reserved exclusively for the samples gathered by Chang'e-6.
This advancement not only showcases China's growing prowess in space technology but also paves the way for deeper scientific understanding of the moon's far side, opening new avenues for research and exploration.
Reference(s):
Chinese scientists set to explore first samples from moon's far side
cgtn.com
