NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) captured the first image of Chang’e 6, revealing changes to the Moon’s surface after its landing. The Chang’e 6 lander was found between two craters of similar size and near an eroded crater about 50 meters in diameter, as reported by Mark Robinson, leader of the camera system team on the LRO.
Five days after its landing on June 7, the spacecraft detected the lander in the Apollo Basin on the far side of the Moon. In a photograph, it appeared as a small cluster of light at its center. By analyzing this image, Robinson’s team pinpointed the coordinates of Chang’e 6’s touchdown site, showing its position in relation to the average lunar surface.
Notably, Chang’e 6’s engines caused disturbances in the terrain around it, similar to impact zones seen around other lunar landers. The team also compared images taken before and after this landing to further highlight changes in this area. Positioned in a flat volcanic rock area known as “the lunar sea” within Apollo Basin, surrounded by geologically rich landscape – including mountains and valleys – is where this mission took place.
