China Launches Mission to Retrieve First Samples from Moon's Far Side

The Chang'e-6 mission, launched on May 3, 2024, aims to explore and return samples from the largely unexplored South Pole-Aitken basin, marking a significant advancement in lunar science.

China's Chang'e-6 mission is set to explore the South Pole-Aitken basin, the largest and oldest crater on the moon, to study its geology and collect samples.
The mission aims to answer key scientific questions about the moon's far side, which differs significantly from the near side in terms of composition and geological features.
This mission is part of China's broader strategy to establish itself as a major space power, with further plans to send astronauts to the moon by 2030.
The U.S. views China's accelerated space program as the beginning of a new space race, reflecting heightened geopolitical tensions.
Scientific collaborations on the Chang'e-6 mission include payloads from France, Italy, and the European Space Agency, highlighting international interest in lunar research.