HELSINKI — China rolled out the rocket to launch its Chang’e-6 mission early Saturday, with the aim of collecting the first lunar far side samples

China ready to launch lunar far side sample return mission

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2024-04-29 23:00:02

HELSINKI — China rolled out the rocket to launch its Chang’e-6 mission early Saturday, with the aim of collecting the first lunar far side samples.

The eighth Long March 5 rocket was vertically transferred to the pad at Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on Hainan island April 27.

The Chang’e-6 mission aims to land on the far side of the moon—a region never directly visible from Earth—collect up to 2,000 grams of lunar material, and return it to Earth. Such a mission has never before been attempted.

A relay satellite, named Queqiao-2, was launched in March. It is now in a specialized lunar orbit to facilitate communications between the Chang’e-6 on the lunar far side and ground stations on Earth.

Chinese authorities have yet to disclose a launch time for Chang’e-6. However, navigation warnings indicate launch is expected early Friday, May 3.

Chang’e-6 is targeting the southern portion of Apollo crater, located at 150–158 degrees west, 41–45 degrees south on the lunar far side. Apollo lies within the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin, a gigantic, ancient impact basin, which is thought to hold tantalizing clues as to a number of moon mysteries.