1
AU FROM SUN
DISTANCE
149,597,871 km
0 years, 53 days
MISSION DURATION
TOTAL
8,200
KG
LAUNCH MASS
1
TARGETS
Moon
Chang’e 6 is a sample return mission by CNSA targeting Moon. Launched May 3, 2024. Currently 1 AU from the Sun.
ABOUT CHANG’E 6
Chang’e 6 achieved a historic first by collecting and returning rock and soil samples from the far side of the Moon — a region never before sampled. Landing in the South Pole-Aitken Basin, it collected about 1,935 grams of material and returned it to Earth on June 25, 2024.
KEY DISCOVERIES
- First samples from lunar far side returned to Earth
- Far side material is compositionally different from near side
TECHNOLOGY & FIRSTS
- First sample return from the Moon far side
- Used Queqiao-2 relay satellite for communications
- Collected samples from South Pole-Aitken Basin
SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS (5)
Panoramic Camera
Mineral Spectrometer
Soil Structure Analyzer
Lunar Surface Sampling Device
International payloads (ESA, France, Italy, Pakistan)
SPACECRAFT SPECIFICATIONS
Launch Mass8,200 kg (18,081 lbs)
PowerSolar panels
Launch VehicleLong March 5
Launch DateMay 3, 2024
Arrival DateJune 2, 2024
Mission EndJune 25, 2024
ProgramChinese Lunar Exploration
MISSION TRAJECTORY
1
Moon
OTHER MOON MISSIONS
🏢 OPERATOR