News updates from space science journals and China's space agency

China Launches Chang'e-6 to Collect Moon's Far Side Samples, Carries Pakistan's ICUBE-QAMAR

May 3, 2024, 09:38 AM

China has successfully launched the Chang'e-6 lunar probe from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan province at 5:27 pm, marking a historic first in lunar exploration. This mission, set to collect rocks and soil samples from the far side of the moon and return them within two months, is the first of its kind aimed at this unexplored region. The Chang'e-6, carried by a Long March-5 rocket, is also notable for being the heaviest lunar probe China has ever built, weighing 8.35 metric tons. In addition to its primary mission, the probe carries Pakistan's miniature satellite, ICUBE-QAMAR, marking Pakistan's first lunar mission. The mission's success could provide unprecedented insights into the moon's far side, contributing significantly to lunar science.