China’s Chang’e-6 probe has returned to Earth with the first-ever soil samples from the Moon’s far side, landing in Inner Mongolia. The mission, which launched in May 2024, collected material from the South Pole-Aitken Basin, one of the Moon’s oldest impact craters.
Scientists hope these samples will provide insights into the Moon’s geological asymmetry and the early solar system. The mission also deployed a mini-rover and conducted high-resolution imaging. This success strengthens China’s position as a leading space power, with plans for a crewed lunar landing by 2030.
“This is a giant leap for planetary science—we’re unlocking secrets buried for billions of years.”
— Dr. Li Chunlai, CNSA Lead Scientist.
