2023-09-30 19:03:30
China’s National Space Administration has announced a mission to bring soil samples from the far side of the Moon back to Earth. So far, no one has managed to do this.
Here’s what we know
The Chinese mission is called Chang’e-6. It is planned for 2024. The automated station will land at the south pole of the Moon and end up in a huge crater. It is thought that it will be able to take samples (around 2 kg) ejected from the interior of the Moon following the impact of a meteorite.
Scientists have already tested a method to ensure communications with the station. To do this, they will use the Queqiao-2 satellite, which will act as a repeater. This technology was tested as part of the Chang’e-4 mission last year. It was on this occasion that China was able to land on the far side of the Moon for the first time in history.
The space agency’s press release does not mention the launch date of the mission. According to preliminary data, the Chang’e-6 mission will begin in May next year and last 53 days. For comparison, the Chang’e-5 mission took 22 days to deliver samples of the near side of the Moon.
Source : SpaceNews
1696122117
#China #bring #soil #samples #side #Moon #Earth #mission #planned
