It became China on June 25 The first country to bring back to Earth samples of lunar rocks extracted from the far side of the Moon. Just three weeks after landing on our natural satellite, China’s lunar probe Chang’e-6 returned with its precious cargo, which was later found in the plains of Inner Mongolia.
The landing, which was watched live on TV, took place at 14:07 local time (03:07 in Brasília). After checking the integrity of the capsule, rescue team members raised the Chinese flag. The mission is another success in the Asian country’s bold project to explore the Moon and other places in the Solar System.
Long Xiao, a geologist from the China University of Geosciences, celebrated in an email to the Western press: “This is a major event for scientists worldwide and a cause for celebration for all of humanity.”.
How important are samples taken from the other side of the Moon?
Once soil samples from the far side of the Moon are available, scientists will be able to compare them with surface basalts brought to Earth from the Moon’s near hemisphere. The expectation is that these analyzes may provide clues about how volcanic activity caused different evolution in the two halves of our natural satellite.
It is expected that the samples will include contents from neighboring regions that were removed by comet and asteroid impacts. If these impacts were powerful enough, they could include materials extracted from the Moon’s lower crust and mantle.
Researchers will search for clues about when and how the Aitken Basin, a massive impact crater on the far side of the natural satellite, was formed. This expedition “completely changed the geological history of the Moon and was also a critical moment in the evolution of the Earth.”Yuqi Qian, a lunar geologist from the University of Hong Kong, told Xinhua agency:
What are the next activities planned for the exploration of the Moon?
In the coming years, China will continue to invest in the south pole of the Moon, where the Chang’e-7 and 8 robotic missions will be sent. They will continue the work of their predecessors in environmental exploration. while searching for water and other resources that could be useful for future manned missions. It is planned to have an international base there in 2030.
The Moon’s south pole is also in the spotlight of NASA’s future Artemis campaign, which has been repeatedly postponed due to technical problems. Despite Washington’s admitted ill-will towards China, Other countries such as France and Pakistan contributed to Chang’e-6.
Dr. According to Xiao, “The exploration of the moon is a joint effort of all humanity.” Speaking to the Xinhua agency, the geologist described the United States as one of the largest countries exploring space and said China has more international cooperation.
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Source: Tec Mundo
I’m Blaine Morgan, an experienced journalist and writer with over 8 years of experience in the tech industry. My expertise lies in writing about technology news and trends, covering everything from cutting-edge gadgets to emerging software developments. I’ve written for several leading publications including Gadget Onus where I am an author.
