China made history by becoming the first country to retrieve samples from the far side of the Moon. The Chang’e-6 probe successfully landed in northern China after a 53-day mission.

China is the initial nation to obtain samples from the far side of the Moon.

The Chang’e-6 spacecraft touched down in the Aitken basin on the far side of the Moon on June 2. This area is among the most significant impact craters in the solar system. Fitted with a robotic arm and a drill, the probe gathered samples of lunar soil and came back two days afterward.

Scientists are enthusiastic about the research possibilities presented by these samples from the unobservable side of the Moon. The craters on this hidden side, unlike those on the visible side, remain uncovered by ancient lava flows, offering valuable insights into the Moon’s formation and development.

China’s space program, under President Xi Jinping’s leadership, has made significant investments and achieved another milestone with Chang’e-6 being the first mission to return samples from the moon’s hidden face, following a previous mission in 2019.

The Chinese government intends to further develop its space missions, with goals to send astronauts to the moon and establish a base there by 2030. This is part of China’s ambition to match the technological advancements of the United States and Russia through its “space dream”.