NASA and China Sending Mission to Far Side of Moon: Everything You Need to Know about the Space Race | Science & Technology Updates

China’s Chang’e-6 robotic spacecraft is set to launch on Friday, aiming to be the first mission to gather rock and soil samples from the far side of the moon.

This mission marks the ongoing competition between NASA and China in establishing bases on the moon and progressing to Mars.

Following the initial Chang’e mission in 2007, named after the mythical Chinese moon goddess, Beijing has made significant advancements in lunar exploration.

What is Chang’e 6 going to do?

The mission’s robotic spacecraft will land on the northeastern side of the extensive South Pole-Aitken Basin, the oldest impact crater in the solar system.

It will gather samples to bring back to Earth for scientists to study the moon’s far side for the first time. In 2019, the previous mission, Chang’e-4, achieved the first successful landing on the moon’s far side.

Since the moon spins on its axis at the same rate as it orbits Earth, we only ever see one side of it. The far side is characterized by numerous craters of various sizes and a thicker, older crust, according to NASA.

Upon gathering all samples, Chang’e-6 will attempt the first lift-off from the moon’s far side in history.

Chang’e-6’s mission is expected to last around 53 days and collect approximately 2kg of material using a scoop and a drill, according to NASA.

This is the first of three missions utilizing unmanned spacecraft before China endeavors to land a crew and establish a base on the lunar south pole.

So far, four countries – the US, Russia, China, and India, have successfully landed spacecraft on the moon.

The race to space

The far side of the moon is becoming a sought-after destination. India marked a significant achievement last year with its Chandrayaan-3 becoming the first spacecraft to land on the lunar south pole.

NASA aims to send humans near the lunar south pole in 2026 with its Artemis mission, with plans to eventually build a habitable base there.

China has set a target for 2030, but NASA’s administrator Bill Nelson believes they might expedite their plans. He expressed concerns about China’s intentions.

“The latest date they’ve mentioned for landing is 2030, but this keeps advancing,” he stated to the House Committee on Appropriations in April. “It is crucial for us to be the first to reach there,” he added.

Why the rush to explore a side of the moon we cannot see?

Essentially, it’s about water.

Since India’s discovery of possible ice in the moon’s south pole craters in 2008, scientists have been eager to determine the presence of water up there.

If confirmed, missions to Mars become more feasible, as does the sustainability of long-term bases on the moon.

Learn more: The space race for the moon’s water

Political dynamics come into play in space exploration.

NASA’s urgency to beat China to the moon stems from concerns that China might stake a claim on the moon’s water and develop undisclosed military capabilities in space.

“My worry would be if China reaches there first and asserts, ‘This is our territory, keep out’,” voiced Mr. Nelson.

Around 39 countries, including the UK, have endorsed NASA’s Artemis Accords, an agreement ensuring space activities are conducted for peaceful purposes and adhere to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.

The treaty designates outer space as ‘the province of all mankind’.

Despite China’s previous signing of the Outer Space Treaty, it has not acceded to the Artemis Accords.

However, Beijing affirms its commitment to collaboration with all nations towards forging a “shared” future.