China's Chang'e-6 Successfully Lands on Moon's Far Side, Begins Drilling for Samples

Jun 2, 2024, 04:51 AM

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced that the Chang'e-6 mission successfully landed on the far side of the moon, as reported by Xinhua News Agency. This marks China's second successful landing on the moon's far side, a region no other country has reached. The Chang'e-6 mission is part of China's lunar exploration program, named after a Chinese moon goddess, and follows the successful Chang'e-5 mission. The lander has begun drilling for samples, and footage of the landing shows the spacecraft's precise hazard avoidance maneuvers. Scientists believe the far side of the moon holds clues to many mysteries surrounding the moon and the solar system. This mission also aims to return samples to Earth, which would make it the ninth ever lunar orbit rendezvous, with the previous eight including seven from the Apollo program and one from Chang'e-5. The landing was performed autonomously, and an HD release of the first images is expected soon. This is the sixth mission in the Chang'e moon exploration program.