The Chang’e 6 spacecraft successfully completed its mission of bringing samples from the dark side of the Moon back to Earth. The spacecraft, launched on May 3, consisted of four modules: an orbiter, a lander, a small rocket, and a gyrosphere capsule. The lander landed at Apollo crater on June 1 and collected samples to be launched into orbit. The samples arrived on Earth on June 25 in Inner Mongolia.
The Chang’e 6 lander remains on the Moon with equipment such as a panoramic camera and a small robotic rover. The French space agency CNES reported that the lander is currently dormant, with some instruments still operational. However, unlike the Chang’e 3 and Chang’e 4 landers, it lacks radioisotope heaters, so it may not survive the cold lunar night.
The rocket that carried the samples back to the orbiting spacecraft has been decommissioned, likely crashing into the Moon after docking. China has used a similar sampling procedure to the Chang’e 5 mission from late 2020. The re-entry capsule and samples were delivered to Beijing on June 26 for storage, analysis, and distribution.
Despite missing some key equipment, China’s lunar missions continue to achieve significant milestones in space exploration. The Thuoc Kieu 2 relay satellite will continue to orbit the Moon, supporting ongoing missions like Chang’e 4 and future missions like Chang’e 7 planned for 2026.