New Delhi,Updated: June 25, 2024 13:19 IST
China's Chang'e-6 lunar probe has successfully returned to Earth with the first samples from the far side of the moon. The spacecraft landed in the Inner Mongolia region on June 25, marking an important milestone in lunar exploration and China's space program.
The Chang'e-6 mission, launched from Hainan on May 3, collected about 2 kilograms of lunar samples from the far side of the moon, specifically from the Apollo crater in the South Pole-Aitken basin.
Watch Chang'e-6 land with rocks from the Moon
The region is of special interest to scientists because of its unique geological features, which differ significantly from those of the Moon's near side.
The success of this mission is a testament to China's growing capabilities in space exploration.
The Chang'e-6 probe used a drill and a robotic arm to collect soil and rock samples, which were then carried back to Earth via a return rocket. These samples are expected to provide valuable information about the geological history of the moon and the differences between its near and far sides.
Scientists believe that studying these samples could provide important information about the formation of the Moon and other planets billions of years ago.
For China, the success of Chang'e-6 is another major milestone in its ambitious lunar exploration program. Having already achieved remote landings and rover deployments, China wants to land taikonauts on the lunar surface before 2030.