Why in the News?

• On June 25, Chang’e-6 became the world’s first spacecraft to bring back samples from the far side of the Moon.
  • Chang’e-6 successfully returned with samples from the lunar far side, making China the first country to achieve this feat.

Components of Chang’e-6 

1. Lander: Equipped with drills and scoops for sample collection.
2. Ascender: Transported samples from the lunar surface to lunar orbit.
3. Orbiter: Carried the samples from lunar orbit back to Earth.
4. Returner: Brought the samples safely back to Earth.

Collaboration and Payloads

The mission carried instruments from international partners, including:

• French DORN: Studied lunar dust and volatiles.
• Italian INRRI: Measured distances using a retroreflector.
• Swedish NILS: Detected negative ions on the lunar surface.
• Pakistani ICUBE-Q CubeSat: Imaged the lunar surface and obtained magnetic field data.

Scientific Goals  

• Sample Analysis: Scientists aim to learn more about the Moon’s internal structure and the differences between its near and far sides.

China’s Lunar Exploration Program

• Chang’e-6 follows previous missions under China’s Lunar Exploration Program, marking the next step in incremental technological advancements.
• Phases of Exploration: The program has four phases:

1. First Phase: Reaching lunar orbit, completed by Chang’e 1 (2007) and Chang’e 2 (2010).
2. Second Phase: Landing and roving, achieved by Chang’e 3 (2013) and Chang’e 4 (2019).
3. Third Phase: Sample collection and return, accomplished by Chang’e 5 (2020) and Chang’e 6 (2024).
4. Fourth Phase: Developing a robotic research station near the Moon’s South Pole, aiming for crewed lunar landings in the 2030s.

Previous Lunar Sample Missions

• Apollo 11 Mission (1969): The US mission brought 22 kg of lunar material, including 50 rocks.
• Luna 16 Mission (1970): Soviet robotic mission brought lunar samples to Earth.
• Chang’e-5 Mission (2020): Predecessor to Chang’e-6, returned 2 kg of lunar soil from the near side.

Significance of Sample Return Missions

• Laboratory Analysis: Allows the use of sophisticated instruments to study the chemical, isotopic, mineralogical, structural, and physical properties of samples.
• Long-term Preservation: Samples can be preserved and re-examined by future generations with advanced technology.
• Technological Feat: Recovering samples from the far side is a significant technological achievement.
• Step Towards Human Exploration: Success of Chang’e-6 is seen as a step towards China’s goal of landing astronauts on the Moon by 2030.
• Launch Pad for Deep Space: The Moon could serve as a base for future deep space missions and extraterrestrial exploration.

Outcome: New Lunar Race

• Global Participation: India, China, Japan, the US, and Russia launched lunar missions in 2023.
• Future Missions: Over 100 Moon missions by governments and private companies are expected by 2030.
• Long-term Goals: Unlike the 20th-century space race, today’s missions aim to establish a long-term presence and use lunar resources.

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