On June 25th, a capsule from the Chang’e 6 mission successfully delivered 1.935 kilograms of samples gathered from the far side of the Moon to Earth, making China the first nation to accomplish this.
Samples Preservation and Study
These samples from the South Pole of the Moon are kept at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, where scientists will examine them to discover more about the Moon’s history and the solar system.
Samples Scientific Significance
On June 28th, the China Moon National Space Administration released a statement highlighting the unique scientific value of the first-ever collected on the dark side of moon rocks. The analysis of these stones can shed light upon lunar evolution and speed up exploration and utilization of its resources.
Elucidation on the “Dark Side”
The “Dark side” does not mean the absence of light. However, detailed information is lacking about this region, making it mysterious or unknown.
Importance of the Samples
The region of the Moon from which these samples were collected is not visible from Earth and is significantly different from the illuminated side.
Geologic History and Potential Discoveries
The geological history of this part of the Moon differs from the brighter side, potentially revealing much about the Moon’s past. Previous missions by the USA and Russia focused primarily on the illuminated side of the Moon.
Pioneering Missions
The samples that Chang’e 6 brought back are significant because they come from a region. That has not been much explored and could result in significant scientific discoveries.
Samples Site Specifics
The rocks were gathered at the lunar South Pole from the Aitken Basin region. Scientists hope they will illuminate the moon’s formation, geological history, and other cosmic occurrences.
Applications for Human Bases
The findings from these samples could assist space agencies in establishing human bases on the Moon by providing information about the available resources on the lunar surface.
Volcanic Activity and Water Presence
Additionally, if they contain volcanic rocks or other evidence, these samples might reveal the history of volcanic activity on the Moon. Another crucial potential discovery is the presence of water in the sample.
Samples Importance of Water Discovery
While the Moon is generally considered dry, recent missions have discovered traces of water on its surface. Finding water in the dark side sample would be significant for future missions and could facilitate. The establishment of human bases on the Moon.
