Overview

• 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.