China successfully landed a spacecraft on the far side of the moon, bringing it closer to the United States in space exploration. This mission, aimed at conducting analysis tests and collecting surface samples, is a testament to China’s burgeoning prowess and development of its space program.
The Chang’e-6 space probe, launched in April, reached its destination on the moon on Sunday. Upon landing, the spacecraft unfurled China’s flag using a robotic arm. This flag, made of a special composite material, was not planted on the moon’s surface but displayed in full view, symbolizing China’s successful lunar mission.
“Mission accomplished!” Hua Chunying, director of the Foreign Ministry Information Department of China, posted on X. “An unprecedented feat in human lunar exploration history!”
The mission’s objective was to gather more data about the moon’s far side, a region known for its rugged terrain that poses significant challenges for exploration. Moreover, the far side’s lack of direct communication with Earth adds another layer of complexity to any mission.
China National Space Administration officials said the Chang’e-6 probe landed in the South Pole-Aitken Basin crater. The area was formed over 4 billion years ago and is believed to be the moon’s oldest crater. It has a diameter of approximately 1,500 miles and is about eight miles deep. The probe collected lunar soil samples through drilling and other various collection methods.
China National Space Administration officials explained that the samples were transferred to a specific container in the probe. The spacecraft departed early Tuesday morning to return to Earth. The objects collected on the moon will be relocated to a capsule on the spacecraft. The capsule will eventually be deployed upon entering Earth’s atmosphere and is expected to touch down somewhere in China’s Inner Mongolia desert toward the end of June, according to reports.
China’s lunar visit was the sixth mission by the country’s Chang’e moon exploration program. It follows Chang’e 5 as the country’s only moon exploration to return with samples.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
China’s space program has made considerable progress in recent years in an attempt to eventually catch up with the U.S. It launched the Tiangong space station in April 2021 and has had multiple manned expeditions to the station, the most recent one being in April 2024.
As part of its ambitious foray into space exploration, China has set its sights on landing a person on the moon before the end of the decade. If successful, it will be a historic achievement, making China the only country besides the U.S. to land a human on the moon, inspiring hope for scientific breakthroughs.