What the Chinese discovered about the dark side of the moon
Chang'e-6 mission recently brought back lunar samples from the far side of the moon, marking a significant milestone in lunar exploration. According to a study published by Chinese scientists, these samples show «distinct characteristics» compared to previously collected lunar samples.
The research, conducted by the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Centre, and the Beijing Institute of Spacecraft System Engineering, revealed important differences. The Chang'e-6 soil samples have a lower density, indicating a more porous and loosely structured composition than earlier samples.
The study notes that the plagioclase content in the Chang'e-6 samples is significantly higher, while their olivine content is notably lower than the Chang'e-5 samples. Chang'e-5 too brought samples from the far side of the moon. The lithic fragment samples primarily consist of basalt, breccia, agglutinate, glasses, and leucocrate.
Geochemical analysis showed that the concentration of trace elements like thorium, uranium, and potassium in the Chang'e-6 samples differs markedly from those gathered by the Apollo missions and the Chang'e-5 mission, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
The Chang'e-6 mission, launched in May, aimed to collect samples from the far side of the moon and bring them to Earth for scientific study. This was the first such mission in the history of lunar exploration. The mission included an orbiter, a lander, an ascender, and a re-entry
