In what is being called a world first, China has launched a probe to gather samples from the hidden side of the Moon. At 17:27 local time (10:27 BST), an unmanned rocket carrying the Chang’e-6 probe lifted off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center.
Approximately two kg of lunar samples are to be brought to Earth for study during the 53-day mission. It will attempt another launch from the moon’s side that faces away from Earth.
Not because it does not get sunlight, but rather because it is imperceptible from Earth, this side of the moon is referred to as the dark side. Compared to the close side, it has a thicker, older crust with more craters that are less covered in old lava flows.
Scientists anticipate that this will make it easier to gather evidence that clarifies the Moon’s formation.
Prior to the launch, Ge Ping, vice director of China’s Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center, informed reporters that Chang’e-6 will be gathering samples from the Moon’s dark side for the first time.
One of the most well-known characters in Chinese mythology, the Moon goddess, inspired the name of the probe.
The South Pole-Aitken Basin, which is up to 8 km (5 miles) deep and roughly 2,500 km (1,553 miles) wide, is where it is predicted to land. After that, it aims to gather rocks and soil from the moon and carry out studies.
