SPACE
China says its probe has started its journey back toward Earth after gathering samples from the far side of the moon in a world first.
DW
June 4, 2024
Chang'e-6's spacecraft collected rock and soil samples from the far side of the moon
Image: CNSA/Xinhua/AP/picture alliance
China's lunar spacecraft started its journey back to earth after collecting samples from the far side of the moon, the country's space agency said on Tuesday.
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) said the ascender module of the Chang'e-6 probe unfurled the Chinese flag before lifting off.
The craft was the first to ever successfully take off from the moon's far side.
The mission comes as China advances its space program, aiming to put a person on the moon before the end of this decade.
Why is the mission important?
The so-called dark side of the moon, which is invisible from Earth, is believed to have great potential for research as its craters are less covered by ancient lava flows than the near side.
Scientists say material collected from the far side of the moon may help in studying how it was formed.
The mission was widely hailed in China, with Chinese state news agency Xinhua describing it as "an unprecedented feat in human lunar exploration history."
Ge Ping, the mission's spokesperson, said analyzing the collected samples would allow scientists "to deepen research on the formation and evolutionary history of the moon."
It can also offer insights into "the origin of the solar system ... laying an improved foundation for later exploration missions," he added.
China's lunar spacecraft started its journey back to earth after collecting samples from the far side of the moon, the country's space agency said on Tuesday.
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) said the ascender module of the Chang'e-6 probe unfurled the Chinese flag before lifting off.
The craft was the first to ever successfully take off from the moon's far side.
The mission comes as China advances its space program, aiming to put a person on the moon before the end of this decade.
Why is the mission important?
The so-called dark side of the moon, which is invisible from Earth, is believed to have great potential for research as its craters are less covered by ancient lava flows than the near side.
Scientists say material collected from the far side of the moon may help in studying how it was formed.
The mission was widely hailed in China, with Chinese state news agency Xinhua describing it as "an unprecedented feat in human lunar exploration history."
Ge Ping, the mission's spokesperson, said analyzing the collected samples would allow scientists "to deepen research on the formation and evolutionary history of the moon."
It can also offer insights into "the origin of the solar system ... laying an improved foundation for later exploration missions," he added.
What is China's Chang'e-6 probe?
The probe's 53-day mission began on May 3. On Sunday, it touched down in the moon's immense South Pole-Aitken Basin, which the CNSA says is one of the largest known impact craters in the solar system.
According to the Chinese agency, Chang'e-6 faced a challenge of high temperature, as well as lack of direct communications with ground stations on Earth.
The probe relied instead on relay satellite Queqiao-2, which was put into orbit in April for communications.
To collect samples, the probe used a drill to gather material under the surface and a robotic arm to grab specimens above the surface, according to Xinhua.
The probe's predecessor, Chang'e-5, retrieved samples from the near side of the moon.
fb/nm (AFP, AP, Reuters)
Chang'e 6: What's in store for China-EU space cooperation?
Mu Cui
China's Chang'e-6 lunar probe highlights the giant strides China is making in space exploration. The ESA has supplied instruments for the mission, but there is concern this cooperation won't be possible in future.
Scientists expect the Chang'e-6 mission will help answer key questions about the early evolution of the solar system
"People were there on the beach. It was really very exciting to see the launch, and to see the expectation from everybody for this mission. That was really something wonderful for a scientist to see," said Olivier Gasnault.
He was referring to the launch of China's Chang'e-6 lunar probe on May 3 from the southern Chinese island province of Hainan.
Its mission was to land on the moon's far side and collect samples that scientists expect will help answer key questions about the early evolution of the solar system.
Gasnault, together with his colleagues at the French Institute of Astrophysics and Planetology (IRAP) in Toulouse, developed a radon detector — a device that measures radioactive gases and radiation — for Chang'e-6.
On Sunday, after several maneuvers, the landing module touched down in a huge crater known as the South Pole-Aitken Basin, the China National Space Administration said.
It's the second Chinese mission to land on the far side of the moon, the first being Chang'e-4, which landed there five years ago and still remains in operation.
Detecting radon on lunar surface
Scientists believe rock samples from the southern polar region of the moon could reveal insights into the early history of the solar system.
Also, within the South Pole-Aitken Basin, there are numerous permanently shadowed regions that are thought to contain ice, which is a valuable resource for future space exploration, as it could be used as a source of drinking water as well as to produce fuel and oxygen, among other uses.
Although the French radon detector does not search for water directly, the knowledge gained during the mission should help a great deal.
Gasnault showed DW a replica of the radon detector at his lab. Equipped with eight dish-shaped sensors, the "DORN" (Detector of Outgassing Radon) device is about the same size as a standard household microwave.
Radon, a radioactive noble gas, is a chemical element found in rocks. On the moon, the gas is continuously produced in the lunar soil, the so-called regolith, by the decay of uranium. DORN will allow scientists to study the concentration of radon present on the Moon's surface.
The detector is equipped with several sensors for this purpose, said Romain Mathon, an engineer who helped develop DORN.
"We needed to remain in the mass and volume envelope which was allocated by our Chinese partners," he added.
Close cooperation between European and Chinese space agencies
DORN is not the only European scientific measuring device in the Chang'e-6 mission.
The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Swedish Institute of Space Physics also deployed a detector for negatively charged ions to gain valuable information about the interaction between solar wind and the lunar surface.
"We used instrumentation technology that had a high maturity, with a lot of experience in developing very similar fly hardware. The developing time for this instrument was very fast by our standards, usually we would take quite some more time," James Carpenter, ESA's head of planetary science research, told DW
Mathon, the engineer, stressed that it was a challenge to meet the deadlines set by the Chinese side, as everything had to be completed between 2019 and 2022, despite the difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Geopolitical concerns
However, ESA fears that increasing geopolitical tensions could jeopardize future space cooperation with China.
Karl Bergquist, head of ESA's international relations department, has been coordinating the ever-intensifying European-Chinese cooperation in space since the early 1990s.
There has been closer scientific as well as interpersonal links, he said.
However, he added, "there are much more geopolitical tensions today than just eight or nine years ago. So there are more and more restrictions."
He cited cooperation on the manned space program as an example. There had already been several joint astronaut training programs between ESA and the Chinese space agency.
But they have de facto been put on hold "due to export controls by third countries," Bergquist said.
This is because the US bans cooperation with the Chinese in space technologies and exploration, he noted.
"We in Europe will use a lot of US components that we use in our missions. And these are components that we can use here in Europe. But of course we cannot export."
Even the unmanned European-Chinese missions could be at risk if Beijing expands its cooperation with Russia, Bergquist said.
"After the Russian attack on Ukraine, there are a whole set of EU sanctions imposed on cooperation with Russia. Then there is the International Lunar Research Station, which is a Sino-Russian initiative," the ESA official said.
If the Chang'e-7 or Chang'e-8 mission is part of the ILRS, it will be "very difficult or actually impossible for Europe to cooperate," he added.
ESA planetary expert Carpenter, nevertheless, still sees no problem in collaborating with Chinese scientists, with whom he has also built up good friendships.
"It's really fantastic to see how China's lunar program has grown and become world class. We feel privileged and happy to be part of it. We are also interested in further cooperation exploring the solar system."
This article was originally written in German.
Mu Cui
DW
June 3, 2024
China's Chang'e-6 lunar probe highlights the giant strides China is making in space exploration. The ESA has supplied instruments for the mission, but there is concern this cooperation won't be possible in future.
Image: Jin Liwang/Xinhua News Agency/picture alliance
Chang'e-6: Is geopolitics harming China-EU lunar mission? 03:45
"People were there on the beach. It was really very exciting to see the launch, and to see the expectation from everybody for this mission. That was really something wonderful for a scientist to see," said Olivier Gasnault.
He was referring to the launch of China's Chang'e-6 lunar probe on May 3 from the southern Chinese island province of Hainan.
Its mission was to land on the moon's far side and collect samples that scientists expect will help answer key questions about the early evolution of the solar system.
Gasnault, together with his colleagues at the French Institute of Astrophysics and Planetology (IRAP) in Toulouse, developed a radon detector — a device that measures radioactive gases and radiation — for Chang'e-6.
On Sunday, after several maneuvers, the landing module touched down in a huge crater known as the South Pole-Aitken Basin, the China National Space Administration said.
It's the second Chinese mission to land on the far side of the moon, the first being Chang'e-4, which landed there five years ago and still remains in operation.
China launches unprecedented moon mission 02:13
Detecting radon on lunar surface
Scientists believe rock samples from the southern polar region of the moon could reveal insights into the early history of the solar system.
Also, within the South Pole-Aitken Basin, there are numerous permanently shadowed regions that are thought to contain ice, which is a valuable resource for future space exploration, as it could be used as a source of drinking water as well as to produce fuel and oxygen, among other uses.
Although the French radon detector does not search for water directly, the knowledge gained during the mission should help a great deal.
Gasnault showed DW a replica of the radon detector at his lab. Equipped with eight dish-shaped sensors, the "DORN" (Detector of Outgassing Radon) device is about the same size as a standard household microwave.
Radon, a radioactive noble gas, is a chemical element found in rocks. On the moon, the gas is continuously produced in the lunar soil, the so-called regolith, by the decay of uranium. DORN will allow scientists to study the concentration of radon present on the Moon's surface.
The detector is equipped with several sensors for this purpose, said Romain Mathon, an engineer who helped develop DORN.
"We needed to remain in the mass and volume envelope which was allocated by our Chinese partners," he added.
Is India winning the new space race? 49:44
Close cooperation between European and Chinese space agencies
DORN is not the only European scientific measuring device in the Chang'e-6 mission.
The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Swedish Institute of Space Physics also deployed a detector for negatively charged ions to gain valuable information about the interaction between solar wind and the lunar surface.
"We used instrumentation technology that had a high maturity, with a lot of experience in developing very similar fly hardware. The developing time for this instrument was very fast by our standards, usually we would take quite some more time," James Carpenter, ESA's head of planetary science research, told DW
Mathon, the engineer, stressed that it was a challenge to meet the deadlines set by the Chinese side, as everything had to be completed between 2019 and 2022, despite the difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Geopolitical concerns
However, ESA fears that increasing geopolitical tensions could jeopardize future space cooperation with China.
Karl Bergquist, head of ESA's international relations department, has been coordinating the ever-intensifying European-Chinese cooperation in space since the early 1990s.
There has been closer scientific as well as interpersonal links, he said.
However, he added, "there are much more geopolitical tensions today than just eight or nine years ago. So there are more and more restrictions."
He cited cooperation on the manned space program as an example. There had already been several joint astronaut training programs between ESA and the Chinese space agency.
But they have de facto been put on hold "due to export controls by third countries," Bergquist said.
New space - The next economic frontier 42:36
This is because the US bans cooperation with the Chinese in space technologies and exploration, he noted.
"We in Europe will use a lot of US components that we use in our missions. And these are components that we can use here in Europe. But of course we cannot export."
Even the unmanned European-Chinese missions could be at risk if Beijing expands its cooperation with Russia, Bergquist said.
"After the Russian attack on Ukraine, there are a whole set of EU sanctions imposed on cooperation with Russia. Then there is the International Lunar Research Station, which is a Sino-Russian initiative," the ESA official said.
If the Chang'e-7 or Chang'e-8 mission is part of the ILRS, it will be "very difficult or actually impossible for Europe to cooperate," he added.
ESA planetary expert Carpenter, nevertheless, still sees no problem in collaborating with Chinese scientists, with whom he has also built up good friendships.
"It's really fantastic to see how China's lunar program has grown and become world class. We feel privileged and happy to be part of it. We are also interested in further cooperation exploring the solar system."
This article was originally written in German.
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