A team of Chinese scientists has made a significant breakthrough in lunar research by publishing the first study on farside moon samples retrieved by the Chang'e-6 spacecraft. The research, titled "Nature of the lunar farside samples returned by the Chang'E-6 mission," was featured in the open-access journal National Science Review.
The Chang'e-6 mission, launched on May 3 and successfully returning on June 25, marked a historic achievement by collecting 1,935.3 grams of samples from the moon's far side for the first time in human history. These samples offer new insights into the moon's composition and geological history.
Key findings from the study reveal that the Chang'e-6 soil samples possess a lower density compared to previous samples, suggesting a more porous and loosely structured composition. Additionally, the samples show a significantly higher plagioclase content and a lower olivine content compared to those collected by the Chang'e-5 mission.
The lithic fragments analyzed in the study are primarily composed of basalt, breccia, agglutinate, glasses, and leucocrate. Geochemical analysis indicates differences in trace elements such as thorium, uranium, and potassium when compared to samples from the Apollo missions and Chang'e-5.
These findings are crucial for advancing our understanding of the moon's early evolution, the variability of volcanic activities between the nearside and farside, and the impact history within the inner solar system. The research team, including Li Chunlai from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hu Hao, chief designer of the Chang'e-6 mission, and Yang Mengfei from the Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering, highlighted the potential implications of their discoveries for future lunar exploration.
Reference(s):
Chinese scientists publish first paper decoding lunar farside samples
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