The aim is to collect the first samples from the lunar far side and deliver them safely to Earth, potentially bringing back new insights into our nearest neighbour, our own planet, and the early history of the Solar System. To do this, the quartet will need to perform an intricate cosmic dance.
The Chang'e-6 spacecraft spent roughly 4.5-days on its voyage to the Moon. Once in orbit around the Moon, a lander separated from the orbiter and targeted a landing area within Apollo crater on the far side of the satellite, where it is expected to land in early June. As this far side of the Moon never faces Earth, operations and communications with Earth will be facilitated by Queqiao-2, a communications relay satellite launched by China in March.
