China just returned the first-ever samples from the far side of the moon

China has successfully returned the first-ever samples from the far side of the moon, marking a significant milestone in lunar exploration. The Chang’e 6 mission, which landed on this remote part of the moon earlier in June, utilized a satellite for communication due to the lack of direct line-of-sight with Earth. The mission collected samples from a volcanic area known as the South Pole-Aitken Basin, an effort that could provide insights into the moon’s origins.

Historically, moon samples analyzed from the Apollo missions suggested a violent formation of the moon, involving a massive collision between Earth and a Mars-sized body. This theory is currently accepted, but evidence has been limited to samples from the moon’s near side. The new samples from Chang’e 6 could either confirm this theory or prompt a reevaluation of the moon’s history.

The implications of the Chang’e 6 mission extend beyond scientific discovery. There is a competitive aspect to lunar exploration, with both China and the U.S. aiming to send humans back to the moon by the end of the decade. Despite this rivalry, China has offered to share its findings with American researchers, highlighting a potential area for cooperation amid broader geopolitical tensions.

Source: NPR