Produced by: Tarun Mishra
China's latest lunar mission, Chang'e 6, has unveiled a mysterious addition aboard its spacecraft, raising curiosity among space enthusiasts.
Observers spotted a mysterious spacecraft attached to the side of the lander scheduled to touch down on the moon's far side next month. The purpose of this roaming robot remains undisclosed.
The China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) launched an autonomous Long March 5 rocket on May 3, marking the first phase of the Chang'e 6 mission.
Chang'e 6 aims to collect samples from the moon's far side, a historic endeavor never before achieved, and return them to Earth, mirroring the success of the Chang'e 5 mission in 2020.
Apart from the main payload, the Chang'e 6 mission carries undisclosed payloads from France, Sweden, Italy, and Pakistan, adding to the intrigue surrounding the mission.
New photos released by CAST revealed a small gray object with wheels attached to the lander, prompting speculation about its purpose and mission on the lunar surface.
The suspected rover is equipped with an infrared imaging spectrometer, although its exact mission objectives remain undisclosed. Its small size and the lunar environment suggest a short-term mission.
China's past missions, including Chang'e 4, have unveiled significant discoveries on the moon's far side, enhancing anticipation for the findings of Chang'e 6.
CAST's long-term goal includes human exploration of the moon by 2030, with plans to test-launch a new type of large reusable rocket in the coming years, maintaining secrecy about mission details.