Chinese probe returns to Earth with rock samples from the dark side of the Moon

2024-06-25 18:00:27Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Chinese probe returns to Earth with rock samples from the dark side of the Moon
Chinese probe returns to Earth with rock samples from the dark side of the Moon

China's lunar probe Chang'e-6 returned to Earth with the first rock samples taken from the dark side of the Moon, marking a major milestone for the country's space program and humanity's exploration of our closest neighbor. near.

The capsule landed on the steppes of China's northern Inner Mongolia region.

China last brought rock samples in December 2020.

The US and the Soviet Union carried out their missions in the 1960s and 1970s.

However, this was the first mission to recover samples from the Earth-facing side of the Moon.

US and Soviet missions have collected samples from the near side of the Moon, the Chinese mission became the first to collect samples from its far side.

The near part is what they see from Earth, while the far part is facing from outer space.

Chinese scientists predict that samples taken from the moon will include 2.5 billion-year-old volcanic rocks, as well as other materials that scientists hope will help answer questions about the geographic differences between the two sides of the moon.

Scientists hope to provide new information on the history of the formation of the Earth's satellite.

The Chang'e-6 spacecraft, named after the Chinese moon goddess, landed in the South Pole region of the Moon-Aitken Basin on June 2.

The samples may also contain traces of previous meteorite impacts, which could provide clues about how our solar system formed.


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