Chinese probe delivered soil from the unexplored side of the Moon

The Chinese space probe Chang’e-6 became the first in history to bring soil samples to Earth from the far side of the Moon, Liter.kz reports with reference to the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA).

A capsule with lunar soil successfully landed in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in northern China thanks to a parachute system. The samples will later be transported to Beijing for further study.

“Chang’e-6 was launched on May 3 from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on Hainan Island. After landing in the South Pole-Aitken basin on the far side of the Moon on June 2, the probe spent several days collecting samples using a robotic arm and a drill. On June 4, the probe took off from the lunar surface and entered orbit, where it waited for the right moment to return to Earth,” CNSA said in a statement.

The duration of the expedition was 53 days. As scientists from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences note, the mission is an important stage in the study of the Moon and will help to better understand the processes of its evolution.

In 2020, China also successfully conducted the Chang’e lunar sample return mission, becoming the first country to resume delivering lunar material to Earth after a 44-year hiatus.