China is aiming to become the first nation to return rock and dust from the lunar far side.
After a short visit to the Moon ’s far side, a Chinese spacecraft loaded with lunar rock and dust has started its return trip to Earth to deliver these precious samples. China’s Chang’e 6 mission ascent vehicle lifted off from the Aitken Basin on the lunar south pole on Monday at 7:38 p.m. ET , and is on its way back home, according to the China National Space Administration . Chang’e-6 launched from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on May 3 and arrived on the Moon nearly one month later.
There, the ascent vehicle is meant to dock with the mission’s service module in orbit, which will place the samples in a capsule headed for Earth. The goal was for the spacecraft to collect 2,000 grams of lunar materials using an onboard drill. The mission is scheduled to arrive at Earth and deliver the samples on June 25. China has returned materials from the Moon before with its Chang’e 5 mission, which made history by returning lunar samples to Earth for the first time in more than 40 years.
Environment Chinese Lunar Exploration Program Lunar Rovers Lander South Pole–Aitken Basin Moon Landing Chang'e 5 Chang Technology Internet Lunar Orbit Gizmodo
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