– China is planning to send an uncrewed robotic spacecraft in the coming days on a round trip mission to the far side of the moon, known as Chang’e 6.
– This will be part of China’s three-phase robotic exploration of the moon, paving the way for a future crewed lunar landing and potential lunar base.
– Chang’e 6’s objectives are to collect lunar surface samples from the far side of the moon, an area that remains hidden from Earth’s view. It will rely on a recently deployed satellite for communication since direct communication is not possible.
– The mission aims to land in the South Pole-Aitken basin, the oldest and largest impact crater. Samples could provide insights into the early evolution of the moon.
– Future Chang’e 7 and 8 missions in 2026 and 2028 will explore the lunar south pole region for water resources and lay the foundation for a future collaboration with Russia to build a basic research outpost.
– China aims to land its first astronauts on the moon by 2030.
– International collaboration will be important but the U.S. currently bans any direct or indirect cooperation with China for its Artemis lunar program.
Source: Reuters
