China to attempt lunar far side sample return mission [updated - samples returned to Earth]

[Waspie_Dwarf]

China to attempt lunar far side sample return in 2024

Quote

China will launch its Chang’e-6 lunar sample return mission next year in an attempt at a first-ever collection of material from the far side of the moon.

Chang’e-6 will launch following the deployment of a new lunar relay satellite in the first half of the year to support the mission, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced Sept. 29.

The roughly 8,200-kilogram, four-part spacecraft will launch on a Long March 5 rocket from the coastal Wenchang spaceport. It will embark on a near two-month odyssey to deliver scientifically valuable lunar samples to Earth.

Read More: SpaceNews

 

Related story:

 

[Waspie_Dwarf]

China’s Chang’e-6 probe arrives at spaceport for first-ever lunar far side sample mission

Quote

Components for China’s Chang’e-6 lunar far side sample return mission spacecraft arrived at Wenchang spaceport Wednesday.

The delivery is part of preparations to launch a stack of four spacecraft to land on the far side of the moon, collect samples and deliver them to Earth. The 8,200-kilogram probe will launch on a Long March 5 rocket around May this year.

Read More: ➡️ SpaceNews

 

Related story:

 

[Sgt84801]

I wonder what the lack of sunlight will do to the rock and soil samples? Anything or. Nothing ?

[Waspie_Dwarf]

2 hours ago, Sgt84801 said:

I wonder what the lack of sunlight will do to the rock and soil samples? Anything or. Nothing ?

There is no lack of sunlight. The lunar farside gets the same amount of day and night as the nearside, it just can't be seen from Earth. 

[Waspie_Dwarf]

China ready to launch lunar far side sample return mission

Quote

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.

Read More: ➡️ SpaceNews

Related story:

 

Edited April 30 by Waspie_Dwarf
added related story.

[Waspie_Dwarf]

China launches Chang’e-6 mission to collect first samples from the moon’s far side

Quote

China launched its complex and ambitious Chang’e-6 mission Friday to collect the first ever samples from the far side of the moon.

A 57-meter-tall Long March 5 lifted off from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center at 5:30 a.m. Eastern (0930 UTC) May 3, carrying the roughly 8,200-kilogram Chang’e-6 into orbit.

Read More: ➡️ SpaceNews

 

[Waspie_Dwarf]

China’s Chang’e-6 is carrying a surprise rover to the moon

This is not the first time a Chinese mission has harbored hidden spacecraft

Quote

The Chang'e-6 spacecraft stack showing, for the first time, an apparent lunar rover attached to the mission lander. Credit: CAST

China’s Chang’e-6 spacecraft appears to carry a previously undisclosed lunar rover as part of the mission’s far side exploration plans.

Chang’e-6 launched on a Long March 5 rocket from Wenchang early May 3. The mission will attempt to bring back to Earth the first ever samples from the lunar far side.

Read More: ➡️ SpaceNews

 

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Chang’e-6 enters lunar orbit ahead of far side landing attempt

Quote

China’s Chang’e-6 lunar far side sample return spacecraft entered orbit around the moon late Tuesday, in another step towards collecting lunar samples.

The Chang’e-6 orbiter completed a braking burn at 10:21 p.m. Eastern, May 7 (0221 UTC May 8), slowing the craft down to allow it to be captured by the moon’s gravity, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced. 

Read More: ➡️ SpaceNews

 

[Waspie_Dwarf]

China delivers Chang'e-6 mission cube satellite data to Pakistan

Quote

China delivered the data provided by a cube satellite, which was onboard the Chang'e-6 spacecraft, to Pakistan on Friday, deepening lunar exploration cooperation between the two countries.

Zhang Kejian, head of the China National Space Administration, handed the data carrier over to Pakistani Ambassador to China Khalil-ur-Rahman Hashmi at a handover ceremony held in Beijing.

Read More: ➡️ Xinhua

 

[Waspie_Dwarf]

Chang’e-6 set for weekend landing attempt as sun rises over Apollo crater

Quote

Chang’e-6 is set to make its lunar landing attempt this weekend, in what will be a critical moment in China’s mission to collect the first samples from the far side of the moon.

Chang’e-6 launched May 3 and entered lunar orbit just over four days later. Since then it has been waiting for optimal conditions for its landing attempt. The farside of the moon, never visible from Earth, holds keys to scientific mysteries relating to the moon’s history and composition. 

The mission is targeting a landing in the southern portion of Apollo crater within the vast South Pole-Aitken basin. The sun began to rise over the crater on the lunar far side early May 28.

Read More: ➡️ SpaceNews

 

[Kittens Are Jerks]

China says its spacecraft lands on Moon's far side

The Chang'e 6 touched down in the South Pole-Aitken Basin at 06:23 Beijing time on Sunday morning (22:23 GMT Saturday), the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said.

Launched on 3 May, the mission aims to collect precious rock and soil from this region for the first time in history. The probe could extract some of the Moon's oldest rocks from a huge crater on its South Pole.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cxeejp0y2pjo

[Waspie_Dwarf]

 

[Waspie_Dwarf]

 

[Waspie_Dwarf]

 

[Waspie_Dwarf]

 

[Waspie_Dwarf]

 

[Waspie_Dwarf]

 

[Waspie_Dwarf]

 

[Waspie_Dwarf]

 

[Waspie_Dwarf]

 

[Waspie_Dwarf]

 

[Waspie_Dwarf]

 

[Waspie_Dwarf]

 

[Waspie_Dwarf]

 

[Waspie_Dwarf]