The Chang'e-6 rover will be launched around 2024 to collect lunar soil from the far side of the moon.

Recently, the National Space Administration announced that the Chang'e-6 mission of the lunar exploration project is currently being developed as planned and is scheduled to be launched around 2024.

Queqiao-2 goes first

The lunar soil collected by Chang'e 5 was collected from the front of the moon, while my country's next lunar exploration mission, Chang'e 6, will go to the back of the moon to collect samples and bring them back to Earth. According to the National Space Administration, the development of the Chang'e 6 mission is currently underway as planned, and is scheduled to be launched around 2024. The landing site is located on the back of the moon, which is blocked by the moon. It cannot communicate directly with the earth, so Queqiao 2 is needed to forward it.

As a relay communications satellite, Queqiao-2 is mainly used to forward communications between lunar spacecraft and the Earth. Its first mission will be to serve Chang'e-6.

It is reported that after the Chang'e 6 mission is completed, Queqiao 2 will adjust its orbit at an appropriate time to provide services for Chang'e 7, Chang'e 8 and subsequent lunar exploration missions. In addition, Queqiao 2 will also relay Queqiao to provide relay communication services for Chang'e 4 and Yutu 2 exploring the back side of the moon.

Chang'e 6 will realize the first human sampling and return from the far side of the moon

The Chang'e-6 mission plans to go to the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon to conduct morphological detection and geological background surveys, discover and collect lunar samples from different regions and ages, and achieve numerous scientific goals.

So far, humans have returned samples from the moon 10 times, all of which were from the near side of the moon. Scientists believe that the far side of the moon is older than the near side and has important scientific research value. Therefore, Chang'e-6 plans to conduct a systematic and long-term study on samples from the far side of the moon, analyze the structure, physical properties, and material composition of the lunar soil, and strive to obtain updated lunar scientific data.

At the same time, my country is accelerating the major scientific project of the International Lunar Research Station, and hopes that more international partners will join in to jointly expand the frontiers of human cognition and contribute to the peaceful use of space and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

What are the highlights of future lunar exploration projects?

It is reported that Chang'e-7 is scheduled to be launched around 2026 and plans to conduct environmental and resource surveys at the South Pole of the Moon.

After that, Chang'e 8 will cooperate with Chang'e 7 to build a basic model of the International Lunar Research Station at the South Pole of the Moon. Currently, the National Space Administration is accelerating the project demonstration and construction of the International Lunar Research Station.

In the face of difficulties and challenges, Chinese astronauts have demonstrated the key significance of innovation in realizing dreams through vivid innovative practices time and time again. Science and technology are constantly expanding our cognitive boundaries, not only to the moon, but also to the stars beyond. With the advancement of science and technology, more unknowns will become known.

Comprehensive sources: National Space Administration, Xinhuanet, CCTV News, etc.