Above: Long March 5 rocket on launch pad
Mission Details
| Mission Name: Chang’e 6 |
| COSPAR: N/A |
| NSSDCA: CHANGE-E-6 |
| NORAD: N/A |
| Mission Type: Lunar Lander |
| Operator: CNSA (China National Space Administration) |
| Launching State: China |
| Location: Apollo Crater |
| Latitude: 41.6385 ˚ S |
| Longitude: 153.9852 ˚ W |
| Launch Date: 3 May 2024, 09:27 UT |
| Landing Date: 1 June 2024, 22:23 UT |
| Objects on or Related to Site: Chang’e 6 Lander Chang’e 6 Ascent Stage |
| Image Source: Above: CNSA, Above Right: CNSA, Right: NASA |
Description
The mission of Chang’e 6 similar to Chang’e 5 – sample return – except this time to do it on the far side of the Moon. This fulfills the CNSA’s self-prescribed third phase of lunar exploration.
Like Chang’e 5, there are four physical modules of the mission. There is the lander, which is responsible for the descent from lunar orbit to the surface, sample collection and any ancillary research. The ascender module rides down to the lunar surface on the lander. Once it has the sample, it separates from the lander, and performs rendezvous with the orbiter. The orbiter itself is responsible for transferring the sample from the ascender to the returner. The returner is responsible for transit back to the Earth’s surface.
The entire payload launched on May 3rd, 2024 and arrived lunar orbit on the 8th. During this time, ICUBE-Q – a cube satellite – was released. The lander descended to the lunar surface on June 1st, touching down at 22:23 UT. The ascender launched from the Moon on June 3rd at 23:38 UT, and performed rendezvous on June 6th at 06:48 UT. The ascender separated once again, with the returner arriving on earth on 25 June at 06:07 UT with 1.93 kg of material.
Read more:
www.planetary.org/space-missions/change-6
Below: NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter photographs Chang’e 6’s landing site.
Heritage Consideration
Chang’e 6 returned the first samples from the far side of the Moon.
Object on or Related to Site
| Object Name: Chang’e 6 Lander | |
| Deployment: 1 June 2024 | |
| End Date: Approximately 3 June 2024 | |
| Function: The lander stage collected the sample and transferred it to the ascent stage. The lander also carried a variety of scientific and research payloads. | |
| Image Source: CNSA |
Description
Aside from its primary mission of landing on the Moon and collecting the sample, the Chang’e 6 descent module carried several scientific payloads. France contributed the Detection of Outgassing Radon (DORN) module, Italy contributed an instrument for measuring a retroreflector, and Sweden contributed a tool for measuring ion reflection from the Moon’s surface.
Lastly, the Chang’e 6 deployed a small rover, named Jinchan, which was tasked with searching for water ice within the regolith. Jinchan took the below picture of the Chang’e 6 lander.
It is theorized that most of the lander ceased functioning once the ascender lifted off, due to the thermal and dynamic stress imposed by the ascender thrusters.
Object on or Related to Site
| Object Name: Chang’e 6 Ascent Stage |
| Location: Unknown |
| Launch Date: 3 June 2024, 23:38 UT |
| Landing Date: Approximately 7 June 2024 |
| Function: The ascent stage lifted off the lunar surface with samples that were transferred to an orbiting spacecraft. |
| Image Source: CNSA |
Description
The ascent module took off from the Chang’e 6 landing site on June 3rd, and completed rendezvous with the returner on June 6th. On or about June 7th, the ascender separated once more and deorbited into the lunar surface. The impact location is unknown.
Below: Renderings of the ascent module taking off from the lander.
