China's Chang'e 6 mission successfully returned 1,935.3 grams of lunar samples from the far side of the moon, marking a significant achievement in lunar exploration. Launched on May 3, the mission's lander touched down in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on June 2, 2024, and collected surface and subsurface materials over a 49-hour period.
This mission is notable as it represents the first sample collection from the moon's far side, an area previously explored only by the Chang'e 4 probe in 2019, which did not collect samples. The returned materials are expected to enhance scientific understanding of the moon's geological history and facilitate future lunar resource exploration.
The Chang'e 6 mission follows China's Chang'e 5 mission in 2020, which collected samples from the near side. The Chang'e 6 samples will contribute to ongoing research, including the identification of a new lunar mineral named Changesite-(Y), discovered during analysis of Chang'e 5 samples.
China's lunar exploration plans include upcoming missions Chang'e 7 and Chang'e 8, aimed at establishing a prototype for an International Lunar Research Station. Additionally, preparations for China's first manned lunar mission are underway, with prototypes of necessary hardware currently in development.
In parallel, China's Tianwen 1 mission has made significant strides in Martian exploration, with plans for a sample-return mission, Tianwen 3, scheduled for around 2028. The mission aims to search for signs of past life on Mars.