Chang’e 6

Chang’e 6 is a landmark lunar mission conducted by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) as part of China’s ongoing Chang’e programme, which is named after the Chinese moon goddess. It represents one of the most advanced and ambitious robotic space missions ever undertaken, marking the first successful collection and return of samples from the far side of the Moon—a region that had never before been directly sampled. Launched in May 2024, the mission symbolises a major step forward in humanity’s understanding of the Moon’s geology and evolution, as well as China’s growing leadership in deep space exploration.

Background and Objectives

The Chang’e programme is a long-term series of missions aimed at exploring, landing on, and eventually returning samples from the Moon. Chang’e 6 follows earlier missions—Chang’e 3 (soft landing and rover), Chang’e 4 (first far-side landing), and Chang’e 5 (near-side sample return). Building upon these achievements, Chang’e 6 had the specific goal of retrieving lunar material from the far side, which faces permanently away from Earth and therefore cannot communicate directly without a relay satellite.
The key scientific objectives of Chang’e 6 were to:

• Collect and return surface and subsurface samples from the South Pole–Aitken Basin, one of the Moon’s oldest and largest impact basins.
• Study the composition, mineralogy, and age of far-side material to improve understanding of lunar formation and evolution.
• Demonstrate advanced technologies for autonomous landing, sample collection, ascent, docking, and return.
• Support preparations for future missions, including possible human exploration of the lunar south pole.

Launch and Journey to the Moon

The Chang’e 6 spacecraft was launched on 3 May 2024 from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre on Hainan Island, using a Long March 5 heavy-lift rocket. It travelled for several days to reach lunar orbit, where it was inserted into a stable trajectory around the Moon. The mission made use of the Queqiao 2 relay satellite, positioned beyond the Moon, to maintain communication between the spacecraft and mission control on Earth.
After detailed orbital adjustments and site selection, Chang’e 6 successfully landed on the Moon’s far side on 1 June 2024, specifically within the South Pole–Aitken Basin near the Apollo crater.

Spacecraft Structure and Design

The Chang’e 6 spacecraft consisted of four main modules, similar to its predecessor Chang’e 5:

1. Orbiter – remained in lunar orbit, providing communications, control, and return capability to Earth.
2. Lander – performed the descent and landing, carrying instruments and a robotic arm for surface operations.
3. Ascender – launched from the lunar surface carrying the collected samples to rendezvous with the orbiter.
4. Re-entry Capsule – returned the samples safely to Earth.

A small rover, named Jinchan (“Golden Toad”), was deployed briefly from the lander to explore the surrounding terrain and photograph the landing site.

Surface Operations and Sample Collection

After landing, Chang’e 6 conducted a series of automated sampling operations lasting roughly two days. The lander was equipped with a mechanical scoop and a drill to collect both surface regolith and subsurface material from depths of up to two metres. The samples were sealed in a vacuum container to preserve their original conditions and prevent contamination.
Once sampling was complete, the ascender module lifted off from the lunar surface—the first ascent ever performed from the far side of the Moon. It then executed a rendezvous and docking with the orbiter in lunar orbit, transferring the sealed sample container to the return module.

Return to Earth

Following successful docking and sample transfer, the return module separated and began its journey back to Earth. On 25 June 2024, the re-entry capsule carrying approximately 1.9 kilograms of lunar material re-entered Earth’s atmosphere and landed in Inner Mongolia. The capsule was recovered intact, and the samples were subsequently delivered to laboratories for preliminary inspection, storage, and scientific distribution.

Scientific Achievements

The Chang’e 6 mission represents a major milestone in both scientific discovery and space engineering. Its accomplishments include:

• First far-side sample return: The mission succeeded in returning material from a region that had never been sampled, providing unprecedented insight into the lunar far side’s composition.
• Exploration of the South Pole–Aitken Basin: This impact basin is one of the oldest features on the Moon, likely exposing material from deep within the lunar crust or mantle. Studying these samples will help scientists understand the Moon’s early differentiation and the history of large impacts in the Solar System.
• Differences in composition: Initial analyses suggest that far-side rocks differ chemically from those of the near side, indicating asymmetries in crustal thickness, volcanic activity, and heat flow.
• Water and volatiles: The samples may provide new evidence on the presence of hydroxyl or water-bearing minerals, offering clues about lunar hydration processes.

Technological Significance

Chang’e 6 demonstrated a suite of complex space technologies, several of which were achieved for the first time in human history:

• Autonomous landing and sample collection on the Moon’s far side.
• Launch and ascent from the far side into lunar orbit.
• Precision orbit docking and sample transfer under communication delay conditions.
• Safe atmospheric re-entry and recovery of extraterrestrial material.

The success of these operations highlights China’s growing expertise in robotic space missions and sample-return technologies, establishing a foundation for future lunar research stations and potential crewed missions.

International Collaboration

Although led by China, Chang’e 6 was also notable for its international scientific participation. The spacecraft carried several instruments provided by partner nations, including a French-developed radon gas detector, an Italian laser retroreflector, a Pakistani CubeSat, and a Swedish ion analyser. The mission’s results and samples are expected to be shared with the global scientific community, promoting cooperation in planetary science.

Challenges and Constraints

Conducting a mission on the Moon’s far side presented unique challenges:

• Communication difficulty: Because the far side never faces Earth, all commands and data had to pass through a dedicated relay satellite.
• Autonomy: Operations such as landing, drilling, and sample collection required significant onboard autonomy due to time delays in communication.
• Complex dynamics: The ascent and docking manoeuvres demanded precise calculations under conditions never previously tested in such an environment.

Despite these challenges, all major mission stages were executed successfully, demonstrating the high reliability of China’s space systems.

Future Missions and Legacy

Chang’e 6 is part of China’s long-term lunar exploration roadmap. Future missions include:

• Chang’e 7, planned for launch later this decade, which aims to explore the lunar south pole in greater detail, searching for water ice and assessing surface conditions for future bases.
• Chang’e 8, expected to test in-situ resource utilisation (ISRU) and technologies for constructing a robotic lunar research station.

The lessons and technologies developed through Chang’e 6 will play a critical role in these upcoming missions, as well as in broader international efforts to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon.

Significance

Chang’e 6 stands as a milestone in the history of space exploration. Scientifically, it provides the first tangible samples from the far side of the Moon—materials that may rewrite our understanding of lunar evolution. Technologically, it demonstrates mastery of every phase of a complex space mission: launch, landing, sampling, ascent, orbital docking, and return. Strategically, it establishes China as one of the few nations capable of conducting such advanced deep-space operations.