When did the Chang'e 6 spacecraft launch from Wenchang Space Launch Site?
The Chang'e 6 spacecraft launched at 09:27 UTC on the 3rd of May 2024. This mission served as a copy and backup to the earlier Chang'e 5 mission.
Questions about Chang'e 6
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Where did the Chang'e 6 lander touch down on the lunar surface?
Chang'e 6 touched down within the southern mare of Apollo crater inside the South Pole-Aitken basin on the 1st of June 2024. This location was selected because it might contain lunar mantle material ejected by the original impact that created the massive basin.
How much sample mass did the Chang'e 6 robotic scoop and drill collect?
The robotic scoop and drill collected a total mass of 1935.3 grams from the lunar surface. Surface soil and rocks were gathered using the scooping device while subsurface samples required the drill mechanism.
Which countries provided international instruments for the Chang'e 6 scientific payload phase?
Four international partners contributed instruments including France with DORN, Italy with INRRI retroreflectors, Sweden with NILS detectors, and Pakistan with ICUBE-Q CubeSat. A mini-rover named Jinchan also participated in the research operations.
When did the Chang'e 6 capsule return to Earth and where did it land?
Final descent ended with parachute landing at 06:07 UTC in Siziwang Banner Inner Mongolia on the 25th of June 2024. The mission lasted roughly 53 days from launch to recovery.