China's Chang'e-6 probe returns with rare Moon rocks from unexplored far side

Chinese Space Probe Brings Back Rare Moon Rocks

China's lunar probe has successfully returned to Earth with the first samples ever collected from the Moon's unexplored far side. The Chang'e-6 probe landed in the Inner Mongolia desert on Tuesday after completing a nearly two-month mission filled with challenges, according to state media reports.

Scientists are highly anticipating the arrival of the Chang'e-6 samples, as they could provide crucial insights into planetary formation. China remains the only nation to have landed on the Moon's far side, having first achieved this milestone in 2019.

Reaching the far side of the Moon, which always faces away from Earth, poses significant technical challenges due to its distance and difficult terrain, characterized by massive craters and limited flat areas.

The Chang'e-6 launched from a space center in early May and successfully landed on a crater near the Moon's south pole a few weeks later. The probe utilized a drill and a robotic arm to collect soil and rock samples, capture surface images, and plant a Chinese flag.

Over the past decade, Beijing has heavily invested in its space program, striving to catch up with the achievements of the United States and Russia.