Chang’e-6 : China
China’s space agency said that China landed an uncrewed spacecraft on the far side of the moon on 2nd of June.
- The Chang’e-6 craft successfully landed in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the back of the moon.
- It is the first human sampling and return mission from the far side of the moon.
- It was launched by a Chinese Long March-5 rocket from Wenchang Space Launch Center on the southern island of Hainan before 53 days.
- Chang’e-6 consists of an orbiter, a returner, a lander and an ascender.
- The lander was equipped with multiple sensors, including microwave, laser and optical imaging sensors which can measure distance and speed and identify obstacles on the lunar surface.
- The probe is scheduled to complete sampling within two days. It has adopted two methods of moon sampling, which include:
- using a drill to collect subsurface samples
- grabbing samples on the surface with a robotic arm
- It has achieved a breakthrough in the design and control technology of the lunar retrograde orbit and aims to realize key technologies of intelligent and rapid sampling.
