This double show China ’s Chang’e 6 lander on the control surface of the moon . CNSA
China ’s Chang’e 6 mission , whichmade an telling touchdown on the moonthis retiring weekend , has scoop out up samples from the lunar control surface and has now taken off . It has departed the lunation to carry the samples back to Earth for study , as reported by China ’s United States Department of State news agency .
The Chang’e 6 mission consists of an orbiter , a lander , an ascending vehicle , and a returner . The lander and ascender split from the artificial satellite last workweek , touching down on the moon ’s surface near the lunar south perch . The foreign mission then performed speedy sampling , packaging up a sample from the synodic month into a container inside the ascender .
This image shows China’s Chang’e 6 lander on the surface of the moon.CNSA
The charge took two types of sampling , including using a robotic arm to scoop up fabric from the surface and a drill to collect material from beneath the aerofoil . Chinese researchers hope to expend these samples to learn about the moon ’s environment and history , including learn the structure of the dusty regolith that covers the surface . This could help show how the moon formed and evolved , and about the early history of the solar organisation .
The China National Space Administration ( CNSA ) described the liftoff from the lunar control surface as “ an unprecedented feat in human lunar geographic expedition history , ” pointing out that the lander was able to handle the extreme point of temperature that the far side of the moon experiences . temperature on the moon ’s surface can get as high-pitched as 250 ° F ( 121 ° atomic number 6 ) during the day time , then pass as grim as -208 ° F ( -133 ° C ) at Nox .
“ The foreign mission has withstood the exam of high temperature on the far side of the moon , ” said the CNSA .
The Chang’e 6 mission will be China ’s 2nd mission to return a sampling from the moon , following the Chang’e 5 missionary post thatbrought the first lunar sampling in more than 40 yearsback to Earth in 2020 . Since that mission , the computer hardware of Chang’e 6 has been update with more self-reliant and more reliable navigation , steering , and control , making it able to take off from the moonlight with less reliance on satellites and ground support .
Now , the orbiter and returner will inscribe orbit around the moon , waiting for the best opportunity to point back to Earth . The mission is scheduled to re - enter the Earth ’s standard atmosphere on June 25 , shore in the desert in the Inner Mongolia region of China .
