CHANG’E 6 MISSION

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Context

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has announced that the Chang’e 6 sample return mission is on track to land on the surface of the Moon in the first half of 2024.

Details

• Chang'e 6, China's upcoming lunar exploration mission scheduled for launch in mid 2024, aims to conduct the country's second lunar sample return mission, focusing on the lunar far side.
• It follows the incremental phases of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, seeking to achieve technological advancements in lunar exploration.

Phases of Chinese Lunar Exploration Program

• Lunar Orbit (Chang'e 1 & 2): Completed in 2007 and 2010.
• Landing and Roving (Chang'e 3 & 4): Achieved in 2013 and 2019.
• Sample Collection (Chang'e 5 & 6): Chang'e 5 completed in 2020; Chang'e 6 targets the lunar far side.
• Robotic Research Station: Planned for the Moon's south pole, supporting crewed lunar landings by the 2030s.

Chang'e 6 Mission Details

• Landing Site: Targets the southern portion of the Apollo crater in the lunar far side.
• Objective: Collect lunar far-side material, including soil, rocks, and subsurface samples, potentially containing lunar mantle material from the SPA impact basin.
• Mission Architecture: Built as a backup of Chang'e 5, comprising a lander, ascent vehicle, orbiter, and sample-return capsule.
• Sample Collection: Lander to collect up to 2 kg of samples 2 meters below the surface, then transfer to the ascent vehicle.
• Sample Return: Ascent vehicle autonomously rendezvous with the orbiter, where samples are transferred to a sample-return capsule for Earth delivery.

International Collaboration

• Payloads: Opened for international proposals; four partners selected for payloads, including French (DORN), Italian (INRRI), Swedish (NILS), and Pakistani (ICECUBE-Q) instruments.

Launch Details

• Expected Launch Date: May 2024.
• Launch Vehicle: Long March 5 rocket from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, Hainan Island.

Conclusion

Chang'e 6 represents China's ambitious exploration of the lunar far side, aiming to expand scientific knowledge and pave the way for future crewed lunar missions and research stations.