China’s Chang’e 6 Successfully Lands on Far Side of Moon, Marks Historic Achievement
China’s Chang’e 6 spacecraft successfully lands on the far side of the Moon, marking a historic achievement in space exploration. The mission aims to gather rock and soil samples from the South Pole-Aitken Basin, a region never before explored. With an autonomous visual obstacle avoidance system, the spacecraft overcame challenges to make a safe landing. This milestone opens up opportunities for studying rocks from this uncharted area, providing valuable insights into planetary formation and the solar system.
China Unveils Ambitious Plans for Lunar Base
China unveils ambitious plans for a lunar base, showcasing CGI of a NASA space shuttle taking off from the moon’s surface. The International Lunar Research Station project aims to attract international partners, with missions including surface sample returns, lander and rover operations, and orbital satellites. By 2028, the lunar base will expand to include essential infrastructure for interdisciplinary research on lunar exploration and utilization, signaling China’s commitment to advancing space exploration.
Scientists Call for Better Protection of the Moon from Development
Scientists are calling for the protection of the moon from development to safeguard its valuable sites for scientific study. The lunar surface’s most precious sites for scientific study are under threat from mining, satellites, and bases, as a groundswell of pending projects are on the horizon. With a limited number of desirable lunar sites, researchers argue for the protection of these extraordinary scientific important sites (SESIs) in order to preserve their scientific importance.