What lies on the moon’s mysterious far side? China’s Chang’e-6 samples give first signs

‘Fluffier’ soil distinct from previous near side samples, may offer ‘highly significant’ insights into lunar origin, evolution: scientists

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The return capsule of the Chang’e-6 lunar probe is opened during a ceremony at the China Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation in Beijing on June 26. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 9:00am, 18 Sep 2024Updated: 4:18pm, 25 Sep 2024

For the first time in history, Chinese scientists have revealed what kind of material lies on the far side of the moon – a mixture of basalts and foreign ejecta largely different from the previous samples of mostly basaltic volcanic rocks collected from the near side.

Researchers said the Chang’e-6 mission samples “may result from the mixing of mature lunar soil with freshly ejected materials” given the existence of fresh impact craters around the landing site.

In China’s first analysis of far side lunar samples – published less than three months after the mission brought the material to Earth – the authors said the material showed “distinct characteristics compared to previous lunar samples”, all of which have been collected from the near side of the moon since 1969.

For example, the far side samples contain significantly more light-coloured particles such as glass and feldspar compared with the Chang’e-5 samples from the moon’s near side. The researchers said the material likely originated from ejections or impacts.

The new samples also have a lower density, meaning it “is more loose and porous than previous lunar soils”.

“The lunar sample is quite loose and would be even fluffier in its ‘natural’ state on the lunar surface,” they wrote in an article published in the peer-reviewed journal National Science Review on Monday. The English-language journal is published under the auspices of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).