# Chang'e 6

> Chinese uncrewed lunar expedition

**Wikidata**: [Q18346001](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18346001)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chang'e_6)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/chang-e-6

## Summary
Chang'e 6 is a Chinese uncrewed lunar exploration mission launched on May 3, 2024, designed to collect and return samples from the Moon's far side. It is part of China's Lunar Exploration Program and follows the successful Chang'e 5 mission. The mission aims to advance scientific understanding of the Moon's composition and geology.

## Key Facts
- Launched on May 3, 2024, at 09:27:29 UTC from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center
- Mass: 8,350 kilograms
- Operated by China National Space Administration (CNSA)
- Launched using Long March 5 rocket (Y8 configuration)
- Manufacturer: China Academy of Space Technology
- Part of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program
- Follows Chang'e 5 and precedes Chang'e 7
- Cospar ID: 2024-083A
- Named after the Chinese moon goddess Chang'e

## FAQs
### Q: What is the purpose of Chang'e 6?
A: Chang'e 6 is designed to collect and return lunar samples from the Moon's far side, advancing scientific understanding of lunar composition and geology. It represents China's continued efforts in lunar exploration and sample-return missions.

### Q: When and where was Chang'e 6 launched?
A: Chang'e 6 launched on May 3, 2024, at 09:27:29 UTC from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in China's Hainan province, using a Long March 5 rocket.

### Q: What makes Chang'e 6 different from previous Chang'e missions?
A: Chang'e 6 is notable for targeting the Moon's far side for sample collection, whereas Chang'e 5 collected samples from the near side. This represents a significant advancement in lunar exploration capabilities.

## Why It Matters
Chang'e 6 represents a significant milestone in lunar exploration as it aims to be the first mission to successfully collect and return samples from the Moon's far side. This achievement would provide unprecedented scientific data about the Moon's composition, geology, and formation history, particularly from regions that have never been directly sampled before. The mission demonstrates China's growing capabilities in space exploration and its commitment to advancing lunar science. By successfully completing this complex sample-return mission, China positions itself as a leader in modern lunar exploration, potentially opening new avenues for international scientific collaboration and future human exploration of the Moon. The data collected could help answer fundamental questions about the Moon's origin and evolution, as well as provide insights relevant to understanding other planetary bodies in our solar system.

## Notable For
- First planned mission to collect samples from the Moon's far side
- Continuation of China's successful lunar sample-return program following Chang'e 5
- Advanced technological demonstration of autonomous lunar landing and sample collection
- Significant mass of 8,350 kg, indicating sophisticated payload and instrumentation
- Strategic step in China's broader lunar exploration roadmap leading to Chang'e 7

## Body
### Mission Overview
Chang'e 6 is the sixth mission in China's Lunar Exploration Program, following the successful Chang'e 5 sample-return mission. The mission was launched on May 3, 2024, at 09:27:29 UTC from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, marking China's continued commitment to lunar exploration and scientific research.

### Technical Specifications
The spacecraft has a total mass of 8,350 kilograms and was launched using a Long March 5 rocket in the Y8 configuration. The mission is operated by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and was manufactured by the China Academy of Space Technology. The spacecraft carries multiple components including an orbiter, lander, ascender, and returner, similar to the architecture used in Chang'e 5.

### Mission Objectives and Timeline
The primary objective of Chang'e 6 is to collect lunar samples from the Moon's far side and return them to Earth. The mission includes several significant events: orbital insertion on May 8, 2024, at 02:12 UTC; landing on the lunar surface on June 1, 2024, at 22:23 UTC; and sample return to Earth on June 25, 2024, at 06:07 UTC. The samples are targeted to be collected from the Apollo basin on the Moon's far side.

### Scientific Significance
By targeting the Moon's far side, Chang'e 6 aims to collect samples from a region that has never been directly sampled before. This could provide crucial data about the Moon's composition, particularly from areas that may have different geological characteristics than the near side. The mission builds upon the success of Chang'e 5 and represents a significant step forward in lunar science and exploration capabilities.

### Program Context
Chang'e 6 is part of China's broader Lunar Exploration Program, which includes multiple missions with increasingly complex objectives. The mission follows Chang'e 5, which successfully returned samples from the Moon's near side in 2020, and precedes Chang'e 7, which is planned for future lunar exploration. This systematic approach demonstrates China's long-term commitment to lunar research and its goal of establishing a sustained presence on the Moon.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Chang'e 6",
  "description": "Chinese uncrewed lunar expedition launched on May 3, 2024, designed to collect and return samples from the Moon's far side",
  "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chang'e_6",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q59627",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chang'e_6"
  ],
  "additionalType": "lunar probe"
}

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. [Historic journey from Chang'e 6 lifts off](https://www.cnsa.gov.cn/english/n6465652/n6465653/c10522480/content.html)