China's Chang'e-6 mission, which returned to Earth on Tuesday carrying the world's first samples from the far side of the moon, marks a significant milestone in space exploration. This achievement not only advances lunar science but also underscores the importance of international space cooperation.
French Scientific Instrument Returns After Decades
The Chang'e-6 probe carried the French scientific instrument, Detection of Outgassing Radon (DORN), which studied the movement of lunar dust and gases between the moon's surface and its thin atmosphere. This collaboration is the first time a French instrument has been on the moon since 1970, highlighting a new chapter in international lunar research.
Philippe Baptiste, chairman of the French National Center for Space Studies (CNES), expressed his satisfaction with the mission's success. \"It was a very nice comeback. We were very happy to come back. Everything went pretty fine for what we know right now,\" Baptiste said.
China has pledged to increase openness in future space missions, offering more opportunities for international collaboration. Wang Qiong, deputy chief designer of the Chang'e-6 mission and involved in the Chang'e-7 and -8 missions, stated, \"I believe more will work with us, and cooperation will deepen even more.\"
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Chang'e-6 mission milestone in international space collaboration
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