China sends Chang'e-6 probe to explore the dark side of the Moon

On the afternoon of May 3, China successfully launched the lunar exploration spacecraft, Chang'e-6, from the Wenchang launch site on the coast of Hainan Island, in the south of the country.

The Long March-5 Y8 rocket was used to carry out the launch. This is the second launch mission in the lunar exploration program carried out by the Long March-5 rocket.

The Chang'e-6 probe will be launched into orbit between the Earth and the Moon by rocket to carry out the mission of collecting samples from the far side of the Moon and bringing them back to Earth. This is the first time humans have carried out this mission in the history of lunar exploration.

According to scientist Ngo Vi Nhan, Head of the design team of China's lunar exploration program, humans currently have very little understanding of the dark side of the Moon.

If Chang'e-6 completes its mission, scientists will have the first direct evidence to better understand the environment and physical structure of this region, knowledge that is extremely important.

The Chang’e-6 spacecraft is a combination of an orbiter, a lander, an ascent vehicle, and a return vehicle. After reaching the Moon, the lander will help the spacecraft “land softly” on the dark side.

Within 48 hours of landing, a robotic arm will deploy to collect rocks and soil from the lunar surface, while a drill will also be drilled into the planet's surface before scientific analysis begins.

After the samples are loaded into containers and sealed, the launch vehicle will return the containers from the Moon to dock with the orbiter, from where the return vehicle will return the samples to Earth, expected to land in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

According to the China National Space Administration, the entire process is estimated to take 53 days.

Previously, the Chang'e-5 mission brought back to China 1,731 grams of material from the Moon.