China's Lunar Probe Chang’e-6 has Returned to Earth with Samples from its Mission
Saad khan 
Islamabad: China's Chang’e-6 lunar probe, carrying samples from the far side of the Moon, successfully returned to Earth on Tuesday, marking a significant achievement in space exploration. The landing module touched down at 2:07pm local time in Inner Mongolia, concluding a 53-day mission that China's National Space Administration hailed as a "complete success."
The mission collected soil and rocks from the Moon's far side, a region less explored but rich in scientific potential due to its rugged terrain and minimal volcanic activity compared to the near side. Scientists believe these samples could provide valuable insights into the Moon's formation and its geological evolution over time.
Chang’e-6 launched from Hainan Island on May 3 and descended into the Moon's South Pole-Aitken Basin a month later. Using a drill and robotic arm, the probe gathered samples, captured images of the lunar surface, and planted a Chinese flag in the grey soil. The mission also achieved the first-ever successful launch from the Moon's far side on June 4, a historic milestone in lunar exploration.
President Xi Jinping praised the mission's success, emphasizing its significant contributions to China's space ambitions. The mission, part of China's broader space program, underscores Beijing's commitment to advancing its capabilities in space exploration, aiming to establish a crewed lunar mission by 2030 and potentially build a lunar base in the future.
China's growing space achievements have garnered national pride, although the mission has also sparked controversy online, with misinformation circulating about past Moon landings. Despite challenges and international scrutiny, China continues to push forward with ambitious space goals, rivaling traditional space powers like the United States and Russia in the quest for lunar exploration and beyond.
