Lunar samples from Chang’e-6 to be opened for global application, aiming to advance lunar research

The return ship of the Chang’e-6 lunar probe was opened at a ceremony at the China Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation in Beijing, capital of China, June 26, 2024. The return ship of the Chang’e-6 lunar probe was opened at a ceremony in Beijing on Wednesday afternoon. During the ceremony at the China Academy of Space Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, researchers opened the return ship and examined key technical indicators. (Xinhua/Xinhua)

The first batch of lunar samples collected by China’s Chang’e-6 mission is expected to be distributed to domestic scientists by the end of 2024 and then made available to international researchers. These samples are expected to help humanity better understand the Moon.

CCTV reported Tuesday that the Chang’e-6 lunar scientific research samples will be distributed through an open application system. Researchers can access information and apply for samples through the Lunar and Deep Space Exploration Scientific Data and Sample Release System on the China Lunar and Deep Space Exploration website.

Scientists around the world are keenly interested in the unique batch of lunar samples, which are expected to update humanity’s understanding of the moon, Li Chunlai, deputy chief designer of the mission, told state broadcaster CCTV.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told the Global Times in July that China has released the opportunity announcement for the Chang’e-6 mission, which is open to the world. We also welcome countries around the world to participate in the study of lunar samples, Mao added.

The remarks came after NASA once again resorted to its “sour grapes” rhetoric after seeing China’s successful recovery of fresh lunar soil from the far side of the moon, saying China had not directly invited its scientists to participate in lunar soil research.

Li noted that the Chang’e-6 mission team has completed sample unsealing, partitioning, processing, preparation and preliminary analysis.

During the sample collection process, the team observed that the lunar samples brought back by Chang’e-6 had more fragments than those of Chang’e-5. After preliminary analysis, scientists believe this is likely because the sampling point of Chang’e-6 is located at the edge of an impact crater, which has some relationship with the splashes generated by the collision, Liu Jianjun, deputy commander of the mission’s ground application system, told CCTV.

The samples also contain a wider variety of minerals than those collected from Chang’e-5’s lunar samples, and they have a finer texture, Liu added.

Considering that the lunar samples are very precious, to ensure their safety, the security measures for the storage room are comparable to those of a safe, and the entire outer layer of the room is covered with a steel plate structure, said Zhou Qin, deputy chief designer of the mission’s ground application system.

The warehouse is a high-level clean room, where all air circulating in it is purified by a filter cartridge. The room also meets high environmental requirements, maintaining a constant temperature and humidity environment, Zhou said.

Chang’e-6, China’s latest breakthrough in lunar exploration, has achieved complete success as the craft’s return capsule, carrying the first batch of lunar samples collected from the far side of the moon in human history, safely landed at the designated landing site in Siziwang Banner, north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, on June 25, and the return capsule of the Chang’e-6 lunar probe was opened at a ceremony in Beijing the next day, with key technical indicators examined, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The Global Times