Tasks on far side of the Moon were heavily automated
Just days after China's Chang'e-6 probe landed on the far side of the Moon, state-sponsored media reports it is heading back with samples onboard.to ever land in this region of the Moon, touched down on Sunday after launching on May 3. It was tasked with collecting and returning samples using a drill and robotic arm in a short two-day turnaround.
Now the ascender part of the spacecraft has taken off from the Moon's surface to dock with the orbiter and eventually return. If all goes well, the samples will be with researchers in late June.China already has samples from the near side of the Moon as Chang'e-5 touched down there in 2020. The more rugged far side is considered a much harder feat because it is blocked from Earth's view.
Chang'e-5 had 22 hours to collect its sample, but because positioning restricts the communication period of the relay satellite, Chang'e-6 was reduced to about 14 hours. This meant that the collection process had to be efficient, executing instructions and judgments autonomously so as not to waste time dialing up Earth. According toThe area where the samples were collected is the relatively flat SPA Basin, the oldest and largest impact crater on the Moon.
China has said it will share scientific data and access to samples with the international community, subject to partnership or application. ®US Space Force says it needs more practice at responding to orbital emergenciesDARPA awards in-orbit manufacturing contract to Momentus
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