Published: 11th May, 2024
Context
China launched a lunar probe Chang’e-6 to land on the far side of the moon and return with samples that could provide insights into differences between the less-explored region and the better-known near side.
Key-highlights:
- The Chang’e-6 lunar probe was carried aboard a Long March 5 rocket.
- If successful, it will make China the first nation to ever retrieve samples from the far-side of the moon.
- The anticipated 53-day mission comes after China became the first country in 2013 to achieve a robotic lunar landing in nearly four decades, and two years after the nation completed its own orbital space station, the Tiangong, in 2022 to rival the International Space Station.
- The goal of China's mission is to either land or orbit the moon. Previous lunar missions have also been launched.
- Other Significant Lunar Missions:
- Around the same time last year, India successfully landed its first spacecraft, the Chandrayaan-3, on the moon.
- When Russia's Luna 25 probe crashed into the lunar surface, its first lunar mission in decades came to an abrupt end.
- Japan joined India, the United States, China, and Russia/Soviet Union as the countries with the most unmanned spacecraft landings on the moon in January.
Fact Box: Dark Side of the Moon
|
Courses
Study
Notes
Home
Resources
More
