China’s Chang’e-6 Ascender Successfully Lifts Off from Lunar Surface with Moon Samples
Beijing, The Gulf Observer: The ascender of China’s Chang’e-6 probe successfully lifted off from the moon’s far side on Tuesday morning, carrying unprecedented samples collected from this remote region. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) confirmed that the ascender has entered its preset orbit around the moon.
The ascender launched at 7:38 a.m. (Beijing Time) from the moon’s far side, propelled by a 3,000-newton engine that operated for about six minutes to achieve the lunar orbit, according to CNSA.
Chang’e-6, composed of an orbiter, lander, ascender, and returner, was launched on May 3. On May 30, the lander-ascender combination separated from the orbiter-returner and successfully landed in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on June 2. Following its landing, the probe completed intelligent and rapid sampling, storing the collected samples in a container within the ascender.
Researchers conducted simulated sampling in a ground lab during the mission, using data from the Queqiao-2 relay satellite to aid decision-making and operations. The mission successfully endured the high temperatures on the moon’s far side, utilizing both a drill for subsurface samples and a robotic arm for surface samples.
Ge Ping, spokesperson for the Chang’e-6 mission, highlighted that detailed analysis of the soil structure, physical properties, and material composition of the samples would enhance understanding of the moon’s formation and evolutionary history, as well as the origin of the solar system. This research will lay a foundation for future exploration missions.
The lander’s multiple payloads, including cameras, a lunar soil structure detector, and a lunar mineral spectrum analyzer, functioned as planned, providing valuable scientific data. The lunar soil structure detector, in particular, provided critical data for sample drilling.
International payloads, such as the Negative Ions on the Lunar Surface (NILS) developed by the European Space Agency (ESA)/Sweden, and the Detection of Outgassing RadoN (DORN) developed by France, also performed successfully. Additionally, a laser retro-reflector developed by Italy was installed to serve as a position marker for distance measurement on the moon’s far side.
Following the completion of sampling, a Chinese national flag was unfurled on the far side of the moon for the first time. Unlike on Earth, the ascender relied on the lander as a temporary launch pad due to the absence of a launch tower system.
The autonomous takeoff and ascent of the Chang’e-6 ascender were achieved using special sensors and the Queqiao-2 relay satellite for communication. Improvements in the autonomy and reliability of its navigation, guidance, and control systems were necessary to overcome the challenges posed by the moon’s far side, as explained by Qiao Dezhi and Huang Hao, space experts from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
The ascender is expected to conduct an unmanned rendezvous and docking with the orbiter-returner combination in lunar orbit, transferring the samples to the returner. The orbiter-returner combination will then orbit the moon until the optimal time for returning to Earth. The returner will re-enter the atmosphere, aiming for a touchdown in Siziwang Banner, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
This milestone marks a significant achievement in human lunar exploration, setting the stage for future missions and deeper scientific understanding.
