China Prepares for Ambitious Mission to Explore Moon's Far Side

China is preparing to launch Chang'e-6, a robotic spacecraft, to the far side of the moon as the first in a series of three missions intended to establish a Chinese crewed lunar landing and a base on the lunar south pole. This ambitious project includes collecting soil and rock samples using a backup spacecraft from the 2020 mission. A recently deployed relay satellite, which orbits the moon, will facilitate the mission's communication during its 53-day duration, including an unprecedented ascent from the far side of the moon for the return journey.

The Chang'e-6 mission is expected to target the northeastern side of the South Pole-Aitkin Basin, the oldest known impact crater in the solar system. This mission lays the groundwork for the subsequent Chang'e-7 and 8 missions, scheduled for 2026 and 2028, which will explore the south pole for water resources and begin the construction of a rudimentary outpost in collaboration with Russia.

As China progresses with its lunar exploration, aiming to have its astronauts on the moon by 2030, concerns have been raised by NASA regarding resource claims. Specifically, NASA has warned of the potential for China to assert ownership over any water resources discovered on the lunar surface. This element of space exploration and resource utilization remains a critical point of international interest and discussion.