Weight of Chang'e-6 lunar samples to be revealed on Friday

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Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences examine a container from the Chang'e-6 return capsule, Beijing, China, June 26, 2024. /CFP

China is set to reveal the weight of the historic lunar samples collected from the far side of the moon by the Chang'e-6 mission. This announcement, expected on Friday, has scientists around the world buzzing with anticipation.

Unlike previous missions that gathered samples from the well-studied near side of the moon, Chang'e-6 successfully retrieved material from the far side, a region shrouded in mystery. This accomplishment, according to Li Chunlai, deputy chief designer of the mission, presents a unique opportunity to gain a more comprehensive understanding of our lunar neighbor.

Initial impressions from Hu Hao, chief designer of Chang'e-6, suggest the far-side samples may differ significantly from their near-side counterparts. Near-side lunar soil is typically described as fine and loose, while the far-side samples appear visually distinct. This difference fuels scientific excitement, raising hopes for potential new discoveries in the upcoming analysis.

The Chang'e-6 probe, which launched on May 3, 2024, collected its samples from within the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin, a colossal impact crater believed to be the largest in the inner solar system. Formed over 4.3 billion years ago by a celestial impact, the SPA Basin holds immense potential for unraveling secrets about the moon's formation and history.

The return capsule carrying the precious lunar cargo successfully touched down on Earth on Tuesday.

(With input from Xinhua)