China’s Chang’e-6 reveals greyer, rockier soil from far side of the moon
First peek at samples from latest Chinese lunar mission follows news that Chang’e-4 rover Yutu-2 is still roaming moon’s ‘dark side’
The Chang’e-6 lunar probe returned to Earth in June after a 53-day mission, during which it collected more than 1.9kg (4.2lbs) of soil through scooping and drilling operations.
Three months after the mission, the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC) revealed these samples at their Lunar Sample Laboratory in Beijing on Saturday.
The samples from Chang’e-6 appear slightly lighter in colour and greyer compared to those from Chang’e-5.
“This is due to the presence of a significant amount of white material, including more feldspar minerals, and a higher quantity of glass fragments, making them appear lighter overall,” said Li Chunlai, deputy chief designer of the Chang’e-6 mission.