China Launches World's First Probe for Sample Collection from the Far Side of the Moon

China has successfully launched the "Chang'e 6" automated space station to collect soil samples from the far side of the Moon for the first time in history, according to Xinhua news agency.

The launch was conducted using a "Long March 5 Y8" rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Site located on Hainan Island in southern China.

The "Chang'e 6" automated spacecraft consists of an orbiter, lander, ascender, and return module. Within the framework of international cooperation, the lander is equipped with scientific instruments from France, Italy, and the European Space Agency, while the orbiter carries a small satellite from Pakistan.

The landing site on the far side of the Moon has been selected at the Apollo basin, located in the South Pole-Aitken basin.

The "Chang'e 6" will perform a soft landing on the Moon, and the equipment will collect lunar soil samples using a drilling rig and a robotic shovel. After collecting the samples, the ascent module will depart from the Moon and dock with the orbiter. Subsequently, the return module will bring the samples back to Earth, landing in northern China. The entire mission is expected to take 53 days.

On November 24, 2020, a "Long March 5" rocket was launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Site, sending the "Chang'e 5" lander to the Moon, which returned to Earth approximately 23 days later with about 2 kg of lunar soil for Chinese researchers to study both for scientific purposes and in preparation for building a research base.