Dear MEL Topic Readers,
China space probe returns with rare Moon rocks
Cheng’e 6 was the sixth robotic lunar exploration mission by the China
National Space Administration (CNSA) and the second CNSA lunar sample-return
mission. It is humanity's first lunar mission aimed at retrieving samples from
the far side of the Moon, with all previous collective lunar mission samples
having been taken from the near side. The prove was launched on May 3 and the landing
module touched down on the Lunar far side on June 1. Then the lander’s robotic
scoop and drill took samples from the lunar surface and placed them on the
ascender module, which was launched into lunar orbit on June 3. The precious
samples were then transferred to an atmospheric re-entry module, which came
back and landed in the Inner Mongolia desert successfully on June 25. What a
challenging mission without any astronomers on board! But why did the mission
aim at the far side where no direct communication can be made with the Earth? What
stake is there?
Read the article and learn about China’s amazing lunar mission.
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