China has launched its Chang’e-6 spacecraft from Wenchang Space Launch Center, marking a historic mission to collect samples from the far side of the Moon, specifically the South Pole-Aitken Basin, a significant and previously unexplored region. This endeavour, involving a 53-day mission with the objective of retrieving approximately 2kg of lunar material, represents a pioneering step in lunar exploration, particularly as it aims to gather data from the Moon’s far side, which remains largely unknown.

The mission builds on China’s growing capabilities in space exploration, evidenced by its previous achievements, including a successful landing on the moon’s far side in 2019 and the return of lunar samples in 2020 that confirmed the presence of water. With an investment of £56m, the Long March 5 rocket used for this launch is part of China’s broader strategy to establish itself as a leader in space, rivaling capabilities of other space-faring nations like the United States.

The successful execution of Chang’e-6 could also provide new insights into lunar geology and enhance understanding of the Solar System’s history. Additionally, this mission sets the stage for further ambitious projects in China’s space agenda, including potential crewed lunar missions by 2030, further explorations aimed at Mars and Jupiter, and the development of an International Lunar Research Station in collaboration with other nations.