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We know that the previous 10 lunar sampling missions were conducted on the moon's near side. Why did the Chang'e-6 probe choose to collect samples from the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon this time? How does collecting soil from the far side differ from collecting it from the near side? What potential scientific advancements could this bring to our research? Thank you.

Li Chunlai:

Thank you for your questions. The decision to land Chang'e-6 in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon was based on a combination of scientific and technological considerations. Technologically, as Mr. Hu mentioned, direct communication with Earth is not possible from the far side of the moon. Therefore, sampling and landing on the far side require overcoming this obstacle by launching a relay satellite to facilitate communication for sampling and landing operations on the far side of the moon. This is an important validation and enhancement of deep space communication technology. Additionally, the far side of the moon has a much more complex terrain and topography compared to the near side. Successfully landing and collecting samples in such an area involve overcoming many difficulties, but it also helps to advance the technological level of lunar exploration missions, laying a foundation for future operations under complex exploration conditions.

In terms of scientific research, the South Pole-Aitken Basin is the largest, deepest and oldest basin discovered on the moon so far. Studying its geological composition, material makeup and evolutionary history can help us understand the primary geological evolution of both the moon and the Earth. To date, all the lunar samples collected by humans from previous 10 trips, including those from the Chang'e-5 mission, have been collected from the moon's near side. Chang'e-6 brought back samples from the far side of the moon for the first time, which will hopefully provide crucial insights into the dichotomy of the moon and help us gain a more complete understanding of its history. Samples from the South Pole-Aitken Basin might include materials from the moon's deep interior or even its mantle, offering valuable data for studying the moon's internal composition. Therefore, landing and sampling on the far side not only represent a significant scientific breakthrough, but also advance lunar exploration technology, highlighting the multifaceted significance of the Chang'e-6 mission.

The samples collected from the far side of the moon, and from the South Pole-Aitken Basin in particular, might exhibit significant differences in terms of mineral chemical composition compared to those from the near side. These differences will soon be revealed. Studying these samples will help reveal the unique geological structures and material compositions of the moon's far side, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the moon's geological evolution history. In other words, with the samples collected previously, we have only understood half of the moon. The Chang'e-6 sampling site is located in a vast impact basin, which may have ejected materials from the depths of the moon. These materials which were ejected during early impacts, are extremely valuable and also difficult to obtain. This offers a great opportunity to understand the internal structure and composition of the moon. The South Pole-Aitken Basin, being a massive impact crater, can provide insights into early impact history and even the early impact processes on Earth, helping us to understand the history of the early evolution and impacts of the solar system, and advancing comparative planetology research. Thank you.

Hu Hao:

I would like to add something. Mr. Li has provided a very professional introduction, so I will offer a "less professional" perspective. During the sampling process, we noticed that the soil from the far side of the moon seems different from that of the near side. The soil from the near side is relatively soft and loose, while the soil from the far side seems different. Therefore, we have high expectations and hope that scientists will make significant new discoveries. Thank you.