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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’

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The Chang’e-6 mission soil samples are being stored in a nitrogen-filled cabinet alongside those from the Chang’e-5 mission, at the Lunar Sample Laboratory in Beijing. Photo: CCTV
Zhang Tongin Beijing
China has offered a first glimpse at the soil samples brought back by the Chang’e-6 mission from the far side of the moon.
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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.

According to state broadcaster CCTV, the samples are being stored in a nitrogen-filled cabinet alongside those from the Chang’e-5 mission.

The samples from Chang’e-6 appear slightly lighter in colour and greyer compared to those from Chang’e-5.

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“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.

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