China’s Chang’e-6 lunar probe brought back 1.9kg of rock samples, space agency says
- The samples, collected from the unexplored far side of the moon, were handed over to the Chinese Academy of Sciences on Friday
“According to preliminary calculations, the Chang’e-6 mission collected 1,935.3 grams [4.26lb] of lunar samples,” the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said in a statement.
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China’s Chang’e-6 mission returns to Earth with first samples from moon’s far side
The samples were collected from the far side of the moon – the first time this has been done – at an impact crater known as the South Pole-Aitken Basin, which always faces away from Earth.
“After the samples are safely transported to the lunar sample laboratory, the researchers of the ground application system will carry out the storage and processing of the lunar samples as planned, and start scientific research,” the CNSA said.
“Our container is designed to be only so large, so we can’t add any more,” Hu said.
The Chang’e-5 spacecraft brought back about 1.73kg (3.8lb) of lunar soil from the near side of the moon when it returned from its mission in 2020.