China's ambitious Chang'e-6 mission has reached a pivotal milestone as the first-ever samples from the moon's far side are set to journey back to Earth. On Thursday, the Chang'e-6 ascender successfully transferred the lunar material to the returner module, marking a significant achievement in space exploration.
The ascender, part of the Chang'e-6 probe, rendezvoused and docked with the orbiter-returner combination in lunar orbit at 2:48 p.m. Beijing Time. This meticulously planned maneuver ensures the safe transport of the precious samples, collected from the moon approximately 380,000 kilometers away.
So, how will these samples make their way back to our planet? The process involves several critical steps:
Step 1: The probe initiated sample collection after landing on the moon's far side on June 2. The gathered material was carefully sealed in a canister-like container positioned atop the ascender, safeguarding it for the return journey.
As the mission progresses, each phase is carefully monitored to ensure the integrity of the samples and the success of their return. This mission not only advances scientific understanding of the moon's composition but also paves the way for future deep-space exploration.
Reference(s):
Unraveling Chang'e-6: Steps of lunar samples' journey back to Earth
cgtn.com
