TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
THE CONTEXT: China’s Chang’e-6 lunar probe has returned to Earth, bringing back the first-ever samples from the Moon’s unexplored far side.
EXPLANATION:
- The mission, which lasted nearly two months, landed in the Inner Mongolia desert recently.
- This achievement marks a significant milestone in space exploration, as it provides unprecedented access to geological material from the far side of the Moon, which is technically challenging to reach due to its distance and difficult terrain.
Scientific Importance of the Far Side of the Moon
- The far side of the Moon, which faces away from Earth, has been a subject of great interest for scientists.
- It is less explored than the near side and presents unique geological features, including giant craters and few flat surfaces.
- Scientists hope that the samples from this region may contain traces of ice, which can be harvested for water, oxygen, and hydrogen.
- These resources are crucial for future lunar exploration and potential habitation.
Achievements of the Chang’e-6 Mission
- The Chang’e-6 mission, named after the moon goddess Chang’e in Chinese mythology, is China’s sixth mission to the Moon and its second to the far side.
- The probe blasted off from a space center in early May and successfully landed on a crater near the Moon’s south pole a few weeks later.
- The mission lasted 53 days and involved using a drill and a robotic arm to scoop up soil and rocks.
- The probe also took photos of the lunar surface and planted a Chinese flag, symbolizing national pride in this scientific endeavor.
Significance of the Samples
- The samples retrieved by Chang’e-6 are eagerly awaited by scientists, as they could provide answers to key questions about how planets, including Earth and the Moon, are formed.
- The differences in geological activity between the near and far sides of the Moon have been highlighted and hoped the samples would help understand the Moon’s composition and its historical connection with Earth.
Future Ambitions in Space Exploration
- China aims to send a crewed mission to the Moon by 2030 and plans to eventually establish a base on the lunar south pole.
- The United States also plans to put astronauts back on the Moon by 2026 with its Artemis 3 mission.
Chang’e-6 Mission
- Chang’e 6 is a robotic lunar exploration mission by the China National Space Administration.
- As China’s second sample return mission, it will attempt to obtain a sample of soil and rock from the far side of the Moon.
- Like its predecessors in the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, the spacecraft is named after the Chinese Moon goddess Chang’e.
- China’s Chang’e-6 mission, launched with the goal of exploring the far side, embodies a pioneering endeavor in lunar exploration.
- The mission, spanning 53 days, comprises several key objectives aimed at unraveling the mysteries of this enigmatic lunar region.
- Upon reaching lunar orbit, the Chang’e-6 mission will deploy its orbiter to circle the Moon while its lander descends into the South Pole-Aitken basin.
- This basin, spanning 2,500 kilometers in diameter, is of particular interest to scientists due to its colossal size and presumed origins.
- The South Pole-Aitken basin is believed to have been formed by a colossal impact event, potentially excavating material from the Moon’s mantle.
- By collecting samples from this region, scientists aim to gain unprecedented insights into the lunar interior, its composition, and geological history.
SOURCE: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c04447venm1o
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