For the first time since 1976, China has brought back samples from the moon through Chang’e 5, the China lunar probe, with the soil samples carried on the lunar capsule that just recently returned to Earth this Thursday, December 17, during pre-dawn hours.
‘Very Welcoming’ to Joint Research
The soil samples were freshly acquired from the moon during Chang’e 5’s first lunar mission, which lasted for 23 days, wherein the spacecraft traveled for a total of 230,000 miles.
The fresh lunar soil samples were carried on the cargo weighing more than four pounds, which landed in the Siziwang district of the Inner Mongolia region, according to the report of the China National Space Administration.
As per NPR, Chinese space agency will be testing the soil samples and assured that any findings from their research will be shared to the global scientific community.
Moreover, Xu Hongliang, the spokesperson of China National Space Administration, said that they are “very welcoming” of possible joint research with other nations.
This concludes a groundbreaking mission for the space agency as China is only the third country in the world to have explored the moon’s surface following the United States as well as the former Soviet Union.
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Youngest Moon Rocks Pulled Out
According to the National Geographic, the lunar samples brought by the Chang’e 5 are the youngest Moon rocks and debris to be delivered to Earth and examined by scientists, which was specifically the goal of the Chinese space agency.
Experts aimed to land the Chinese lunar probe to specific regions in the moon, namely the Oceanus Procellarum, otherwise known as the Ocean of Storms, which scientists believe to be a volcanic area long ago.
Therefore, they believed that the moon rock samples from this region would be much younger compared to former samples pulled from the moon.
Scientists have previously confirmed that the samples gathered by the US and Soviet Union missions were more than three billion years old.
This can be a huge opportunity not just for Chinese scientists but also for the global scientific community to gain some fresh insight into the characteristics and history of Earth’s closest neighbor.
It is possible that the public will soon see the moon rocks acquired by Chang’e 5 as the samples will not only be used for further research but will also be included in future museum exhibits, which the general public can most likely visit in the near future, especially when the COVID-19 pandemic ends.
The Next China Lunar Missions
So, what’s next for space exploration in China?
In a report by The Global Times, it seems like the nation already has a plan in mind as they are preparing for three more lunar exploration missions that will soon encompass broader space exploration.
According to the news outlet, Chang’e 6 and Chang’e 7 will further explore the moon and acquire more samples for further analysis, plus people behind the project are also planning to include international payloads that will be brought on board.
Meanwhile, Chang’e 8 will be used to determine the possibility of building an internal research center right on the moon.
Related Article: Chang'e 5 Moon Mission: China Becomes Third Country to Take Home Lunar Samples
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Written by: Nhx Tingson
