Chang'e-6 is just the tip of China's ambitions for the Solar System

China's Chang'e-6 mission is a significant achievement for the country's space exploration program. The spacecraft successfully landed on the unexplored far side of the Moon and collected valuable soil samples. This mission not only demonstrates China's growing capabilities in space exploration but also provides insight into the country's ambitious plans for the Solar System. The primary objective of the Chang'e-6 mission is to retrieve the first-ever samples from the lunar far side and transport them safely back to Earth. This endeavor has the potential to yield new discoveries about the Moon, our planet, and the early history of the Solar System. To accomplish this feat, China's quartet of spacecraft had to execute a complex series of maneuvers. Following its launch from the Wenchange Space Launch Centre on 3 May, Chang'e-6 spent approximately 4. 5 days traveling to the Moon. Upon reaching lunar orbit, a lander separated from the orbiter and made a precise landing on the designated area of the far side. Due to the Moon's rotation, direct communication with Earth was not possible, so China utilized a communications relay satellite to facilitate operations. The lander utilized specialized tools to collect approximately 2kg of surface and subsurface materials, which were then carefully sealed and transferred to the orbiter. The orbiter will transport the samples back to Earth, where scientists eagerly await the opportunity to analyze them. The success of the Chang'e-6 mission is a significant milestone in China's space exploration endeavors and paves the way for future missions to unlock the mysteries of the Solar System.