2024 Chang'e 6 lunar mission successfully collected and returned rock samples from the Moon's far side.

In June 2024, China's Chang'e 6 lunar mission successfully collected and returned approximately 5 pounds of rock samples from the far side of the Moon, marking a significant milestone in lunar exploration. Landing in the South Pole-Aitken basin, the mission aims to provide crucial geologic information about the Moon, improving our understanding of Earth and the solar system's early history. The unique volcanic deposits on the far side differ from those on the near side, and analyzing their composition and age could help scientists understand the Moon's evolution and the intensity of impacts during the solar system's formation. These samples are expected to provide insights into the "lunar cataclysm" period when Earth and other rocky planets experienced intense asteroid and comet impacts around 4 billion years ago.

August 06, 2024
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