Author: Jeffrey Gillis-Davis, Research Professor of Physics, Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis

TECH

Chang’e 6 brought rocks from the far side of the Moon back to Earth − a planetary scientist explains what this sample could hold

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China achieved a historic feat by bringing back the first-ever sample from the lunar far side in June 2024. It’s moon lander, Chang’e 6, used a robotic scoop and drill to collect approximately 5 pounds (2 kilograms) of rocks and soil. These samples came back to Earth on June 25, 2024. Chang’e 6 built off the accomplishments of two previous Chinese missions: Chang’e 4, which soft-landed on the far side of the Moon and used a rover to explore the surface, and Chang’e 5, which returned samples from the Moon’s near side. Scientists expect the Chang’e 6 samples to deliver…

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