'Getting close to landing': China's Chang'e 6 aims for early June touchdown on Moon's far side
Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Chang'e 6 in Lunar Orbit
China's robotic Chang'e 6 sample-return mission is currently orbiting the moon, preparing for its landing attempt on the lunar far side.
Scheduled Landing in June
The spacecraft aims to land in early June in the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin, a massive impact feature measuring about 1,550 miles (2,500 kilometers) wide.
Optimal Landing Conditions
Chang'e 6 is waiting for ideal illumination conditions and scouting the best landing sites within or around the Apollo basin, part of the larger SPA region.
Multi-Component Mission
The mission involves placing a lander/ascender on the lunar surface and keeping a spacecraft in lunar orbit. The lander will collect lunar samples within 48 hours of touchdown.
Sample Collection and Return
The lander's robotic arm and drill will gather rocks and soil, which will be transferred to the ascender. The ascender will then dock with the orbiter/returner in lunar orbit for the journey back to Earth.
Homeward Journey
After roughly five days of flight, a return capsule containing the samples will reenter Earth's atmosphere and land in the Siziwang Banner region of Inner Mongolia.
53-Day Mission Timeline
The mission, launched on May 3, is expected to last 53 days, culminating with the return of the sample-containing capsule to Earth.
Strategic Landing Zone
The SPA basin, the moon's largest and oldest impact structure, is a high-priority site for lunar exploration. One candidate landing area for Chang'e 6 is a cryptomare region south of the Apollo basin.
Comparative Scientific Analysis
Samples from Chang'e 6, along with those from China's Chang'e 5 mission and NASA's Apollo missions, will help scientists understand the early thermal history of the lunar far side and the hemispherical asymmetry of lunar mare deposits.