China’s Chang’e 6 mission achieved a historic feat in June 2024 by bringing back the first samples from the far side of the Moon. What secrets have these analyzes revealed?
Tl;dr
- The Chinese Chang’e 6 mission brought back the first samples from the far side of the Moon in 2024.
- Analyzes of the samples revealed volcanic episodes dating back 4.2 billion years.
- These discoveries could inform our models of planet formation and our understanding of geological processes.
The Chang’e 6 mission illuminates the secrets of the dark side of the Moon
In 2024, a major breakthrough was made in space research. The Chinese Chang’e 6 mission achieved the historic feat of bringing back the first samples from the far side of the Moon, revealing the mysteries of this unexplored side.
A revolutionary discovery
Initial analyzes of these samples revealed volcanic episodes 4.2 billion years old. These discoveries, based on precise isotopic data, made it possible to refine the chronology of lunar events. They also represent a significant advance in our understanding of the history of the Moon and have a potentially major impact on our models of planetary formation and our understanding of geologic processes in the Solar System.
The implications of the Chang’e 6 mission
The samples collected by the Chang’e 6 mission come from the South Pole-Aitken basin, which gives them a notable particularity. Indeed, they come from a region different from the one we see from Earth. The first results of these samples made it possible to identify two distinct volcanic episodes.
The oldest, dating back 4.2 billion years, was identified using a sample of basalt rich in potassium, rare earths and phosphorus. Additionally, more recent basalt samples show traces of volcanism dating back around 2.8 billion years.
A step forward in understanding our solar system
These discoveries not only extended the known duration of volcanic activities on the far side of the Moon, but also validated the astronomical “clock” established by the Apollo and Luna missions. The results of the mission Chang’e 6 confirm the hypothesis that the meteor flow on the far side is similar to that on the visible side. This observation reinforces the reliability of chronological models applicable to other celestial bodies such as Mars or asteroids, for example.
In short, the Chang’e 6 mission has opened up new perspectives for space research, providing us with valuable insight into the history of our solar system and strengthening the reliability of our time series models.
