China já decolou com as primeiras amostras do lado oculto da Lua. Não será seu último golpe à NASA

China Has Already Launched the First Samples from the Moon’s Dark Side. It Won’t Be Its Last Blow to NASA

Written by Noel Budeguer

Published on 05/06/2024 at 10:55

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China Prepares to Bring the First Samples from the Dark Side of the Moon. Discover How the Chang’e-6 Mission Challenges NASA’s Leadership and Marks a New Chapter in Space Exploration

As planned, the Chinese Probe Chang’e-6 launched this morning from the dark side of the Moon. It carries the sample container that it collected from the surface. If the return trip goes well, these will be the first samples retrieved from the far side of the satellite.

In Record Time

Chang’e-6 landed near the lunar south pole, in the Apollo crater, on the dark side of the Moon, at 12:23 UTC on June 2. It had 14 hours to collect samples with its 3.7-meter drill and robotic arm, and it did so in just 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Images released by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) two days later show how the arm selects, scrapes the surface, and collects lunar regolith and small surface rocks to store them in a container that will fly toward Earth in a few weeks. Although much of the process was automated, researchers simulated the operation in a laboratory on Earth using the data the probe sent via the Queqiao-2 communications satellite (the dark side of the Moon has no direct visibility with Earth).

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

Selfie and Launch on the Moon

Chang’e-6 carried a wheeled camera that was successfully ejected to take a full picture of the probe. CNSA also took advantage of the cameras onboard the probe to take several selfies, including a close-up of the small Chinese flag that was unfurled with a mechanism to keep it flat and straight.

Then, the ascent module launched toward lunar orbit. Visual confirmation of the launch was provided by a camera aimed upwards on the part of the probe that remained on the Moon’s surface.

The launch video (below) is very similar to that of the Chang’e-5 mission that collected samples from one of the youngest regions of the near side of the Moon. Another milestone for China, which has already landed on the Moon four times.

Next Steps

The ascent module of Chang’e-6 will meet the orbiter that has been waiting in lunar orbit in two days. Once close, it will transfer the container with a coupling maneuver that will last just 21 seconds. CNSA calls this maneuver a “handshake and strong hug.”

After that, the spacecraft will wait about 14 days to insert itself into a Luna-Earth transfer orbit. It will take five days to reach Earth, where a capsule designed for atmospheric re-entry will be responsible for landing with the samples in the Inner Mongolia desert.

Dual Challenge to the United States

China is therefore 19 days away from becoming the first nation to bring samples from the dark side of the Moon. This is not the first time China has challenged the United States in the space race they are involved in, but it is the clearest strike.

Years after the United States vetoed its access to the International Space Station, China has its own space station, brought back the first samples from the near side of the Moon since the Apollo missions, landed for the first time on the dark side of the Moon, and is bringing back the first samples from this side of the satellite.

Now, China is also looking to become the first country to bring soil from Mars with the Tianwen-3 mission, as a senior official said after the failure of NASA’s Mars Sample Return mission. And although it is still unclear, it is possible that China may also reach the Moon first with a woman if the United States does not resolve the issues with the Artemis program.

Images | CNSA

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China Has Already Launched the First Samples from the Moon’s Dark Side. It Won’t Be Its Last Blow to NASA

China Prepares to Bring the First Samples from the Dark Side of the Moon. Discover How the Chang’e-6 Mission Challenges NASA’s Leadership and Marks a New Chapter in Space Exploration

In Record Time

Selfie and Launch on the Moon

Next Steps

Dual Challenge to the United States

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China Prepares to Bring the First Samples from the Dark Side of the Moon. Discover How the Chang’e-6 Mission Challenges NASA’s Leadership and Marks a New Chapter in Space Exploration

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