China’s Chang’e-6 mission is set to make history by retrieving a sample of material from the far side of the moon, aiming to shed light on the mysteries of why the lunar near and far sides are so different. The mission, expected to land in early June, will target the Apollo double ring impact basin within the South Pole–Aitken basin, the largest impact feature in the solar system.
One of the key factors believed to influence the differences between the moon’s near and far sides is the thickness of the lunar crust. Chang’e-6 will bring back approximately 2 kilograms of lunar material, marking the first sample-return mission to the far side. Scientists are particularly interested in understanding why volcanism is limited on the far side compared to the near side.
The Apollo basin, where Chang’e-6 will touch down, is thought to have undergone two major volcanic eruptions billions of years ago. By retrieving a sample from the region near Chaffee S in the Apollo basin, researchers hope to gain crucial insights into lunar scientific questions. The diverse samples brought back by Chang’e-6 will help scientists unravel the magmatic processes that took place on the far side of the moon.
The data and findings from this groundbreaking mission will provide a geological framework for interpreting the Chang’e-6 samples and will serve as a vital reference for Chinese scientists analyzing the samples. This mission represents a significant step forward in our understanding of the moon’s geology and could potentially unlock new discoveries about the lunar surface. Stay tuned to KP INSIDER for updates on this historic mission.
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