International
Entered 2024.05.03 21:06 Modified 2024.05.03 21:06
The China Chang’e 6 launch scene on the 3rd (local time). Photo = EPA On the 3rd (local time), China launched the unmanned spacecraft ‘Chang’e 6’, which will collect soil samples from the far side of the moon for the first time in human history, and announced the launch in successful.
The China National Aviation Administration (CNSA) sent the Chang’e 6 to the moon on a Long March 5 Y8 carrier rocket at Wenchang Space Launch Complex in Hainan Province at 5:27 pm on this day. After launch, Chang’e 6 went through processes such as rocket separation and solar panel installation, and entered the scheduled Earth-Moon transfer orbit after a flight of about 1 hour and 10 minutes. After confirming this entire process, CNSA declared, “The Chang’e 6 launch mission was a smooth success.” Chang’e 6 consists of four main parts, including an orbiter, a lander, an ascent module, and a re-entry module, and is responsible for reaching the Aiken Basin in Antarctica and collecting dust and rocks. The total target sample to be collected is 2kg, and is expected to take a total of 53 days from launch to return.
So far, five countries have successfully explored the surface of the moon: the Soviet Union, the United States, China, India, and Japan. However, no country has reached the far side of the moon. This is because it is not easy to secure a landing spot on the far side of the moon, as well as smooth communication with Earth. Previously, the United States and the Soviet Union also collected samples from the moon, but all came from the front of the moon.
In December 2018, China became the first in the world to land Chang’e 4 on the far side of the moon. Chang’e 5, launched in November 2020, returned with samples of the lunar surface. If Chang’e 6 succeeds in its mission, humanity will obtain soil and rock samples from the far side of the moon for the first time. The collected samples are expected to be used as data to study the development of the moon and solar system.
Noh Jeong-dong, Hankyung.com reporter dong2@hankyung.com
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