Chang'e-6 fired with hidden samples in favor of the moon

2024/06/05 Etxebeste Aduriz, Egoitz - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Astronautika

The Chinese mission Chang'e-6 has managed to take occult samples in favor of the Moon and take off to the lunar orbit. This is the first take-off on the hidden face.

On 2 June the Chang’e 6 probe landed in the Aitken basin of the south pole of the Moon. For two days he has been collecting samples, buried by drill and surface with a robotic arm. When the capsule reaches Earth, the exact number of samples it has managed to take will be known, but it is expected to be between 2 and 3 kg (Chang'e-5 mission amounted to 1.7 kg).

After the samples were finished, the probe pulled out a small camera with wheels, took a few meters away and photographed the probe with the robotic arm stretched (top image). The samples were kept well and on June 4 took off in the morning. It reached the orbit of the Moon in 6 minutes. On a good road, 6 June will be coupled to the orbital module through a new system of tweezers and bars. Subsequently, the sample container will move from the ascent stage to the return capsule by means of a mechanical zipper transfer mechanism.

The orbital module is located in the orbit of the Moon for 14 days, until the right time to advance towards Earth arrives. If everything goes well, the capsule will reach Earth on 25 June. For the first time, researchers will have hidden samples in favor of the Moon.