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Speakers:

Mr. Bian Zhigang, vice administrator of the China National Space Administration (CNSA)

Mr. Hu Hao, chief designer of the Chang'e-6 mission

Mr. Lin Yiming, vice president of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

Mr. Liu Yunfeng, a person in charge of the Department of International Cooperation at the CNSA

Mr. Li Chunlai, deputy chief designer of the Chang'e-6 mission and researcher of the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Chairperson:

Ms. Shou Xiaoli, director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO

Date:

June 27, 2024

Shou Xiaoli:

Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). The Chang'e-6 mission has been a complete success. Today, we have invited Mr. Bian Zhigang, vice administrator of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), to brief you on the mission's developments and answer your questions. Also present today are Mr. Hu Hao, chief designer of the Chang'e-6 mission; Mr. Lin Yiming, vice president of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation; Mr. Liu Yunfeng, a person in charge of the Department of International Cooperation at the CNSA; and Mr. Li Chunlai, deputy chief designer of the Chang'e-6 mission and researcher at the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Now, I'll give Mr. Bian the floor for his introduction.

Bian Zhigang:

Thank you, Ms. Shou. Hello, everyone. I would like to express my gratitude for your interest in and support for and coverage of the Chang'e-6 mission.

Here at the venue, we have models of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe and the Queqiao-2 relay satellite on display. At 2:07 p.m. (Beijing Time) on June 25, the returner of the Chang'e-6 lunar probe landed precisely in its designated area in Siziwang Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, bringing back samples collected from the moon's far side for the first time in human history. General Secretary Xi Jinping extended congratulations on the complete success of the Chang'e-6 mission, noting that this mission marks another landmark achievement in China's endeavor to build a strong country in space as well as in science and technology. All those who participated in the mission have been greatly inspired.

The fourth phase of the lunar exploration program is a major space project personally approved by General Secretary Xi Jinping. It fully demonstrates the high level of regard and care for the country's space industry by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, as well as the unique strengths of the new system for mobilizing resources nationwide. As the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee approaches, the Chang'e-6 mission's achievement of the world's first lunar far-side sample return has exhilarated the entire nation and captured global attention. Over the past three months, we, together with the people across the country, have closely followed and eagerly anticipated every step of the Chang'e-6 mission. On March 20, the relay satellite Queqiao-2 was launched to provide Earth-moon communications services. On May 3, a Long March-5 rocket was launched on schedule, successfully sending the Chang'e-6 probe into its predetermined orbit. Over 53 days, Chang'e-6 underwent 11 challenging stages. These included Earth-moon transfer , near-moon braking, and the separation of the lander-ascender combination from the orbiter-returner combination. It then achieved a smooth lunar landing, used a drill to collect subsurface samples, and grabbed surface samples with a robotic arm. The mission continued with lifting off from the lunar surface, rendezvous and docking between the ascender and the orbiter-returner combination, and the transfer of samples. This was followed by lunar orbiting, moon-Earth transfer, and finally, re-entry and recovery. Finally, the Chang'e-6 probe successfully returned to Earth.

This was a journey of exploration. The geological structure, material composition, and early cosmic environment of the far side of the moon are shrouded in mystery. The Chang'e-6 probe landed at the edge of an impact crater known as the Apollo Basin, located in the northeast of the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin on the far side of the moon. The crater is the largest, deepest, and oldest known impact crater on the moon. Scientists will study the subsurface samples collected with a drill and the surface samples grabbed with a robotic arm, hoping to unravel significant scientific mysteries about the evolution of the moon and the solar system.

This was a journey of innovation. The Chang'e-6 mission was the most technically advanced lunar exploration endeavor in China's space history, achieving three major technological breakthroughs and one world first. Specifically, it mastered the technologies of lunar retrograde orbit design and control, intelligent sampling as well as takeoff and ascent from the far side of the moon. Additionally, it successfully accomplished the world’s first automatic sampling and return from the far side of the moon, setting another world record for China's space endeavors. Additionally, the new basalt fiber material and intelligent mobile camera technology, were used to unfurl a Chinese national flag on the far side of the moon. These advancements have broad applications for national economic growth and the public's well-being, contributing to a better quality of life.

This is also a journey of cooperation. This mission involved cooperation with the European Space Agency (ESA), France, Italy, and Pakistan in operating four payloads, obtaining valuable firsthand scientific data. Additionally, there was collaboration in the field of telemetry, tracking, and control. Space agencies from several countries, diplomats stationed in China and officials from international organizations were invited to observe the launch. After the success of the mission, heads of those organizations, as well as foreign counterparts and friends, sent us congratulations and spoke of their interest in deepening cooperation with China. I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of the CNSA. We also encourage domestic and foreign scientists to jointly conduct scientific research on lunar samples and data, and strive to obtain more original outcomes.

It is particularly noteworthy that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the CPC Central Committee's decision to implement the lunar exploration program. Over the past 20 years, those involved in the program have strengthened their responsibilities to the mission, kept moving forward until our goals are met, and advanced steadily step by step, leading to successive victories and continually turning the Chinese nation's dream of embracing the moon into reality. The program has brought together thousands of research units and tens of thousands of scientific and technological workers across the country, fostering and refining the spirit of lunar exploration. It has cultivated many outstanding scientific, technical and management talents, formed a successful model for the implementation of major scientific and technological projects, built up China's core capabilities in deep-space exploration, and forged a high-quality and cost-effective path for lunar exploration. Each mission, after achieving its set goals, has conducted extended experiments, laying a more solid foundation for subsequent project tasks. For example, in the field of scientific discovery, scientists from around the world have published over 1,900 research papers based on China's lunar exploration data. Chinese scientists discovered a new mineral using lunar samples collected during the Chang'e-5 mission and named it Changesite-(Y). This is the sixth mineral found on the moon by mankind. Their research also proved that magmatic activities existed on the moon 1.96 billion years ago, extending the "life" of lunar volcanism 1 billion years longer than previously known. The entry of lunar samples into the "Chang'e Era" has greatly enriched humanity's understanding of the moon and the universe.

Ladies and gentlemen, deep space is boundless and infinite, while humanity's quest for knowledge is limitless. The follow-up Chang'e-7 and Chang'e-8, and the planetary exploration missions Tianwen-2 and Tianwen-3, are progressing as planned. The CNSA will further conduct various forms of international exchanges and cooperation in the aerospace sector based on equality, mutual benefits, peaceful utilization and inclusive development. We look forward to joining hands with more international colleagues to make new contributions to expanding human understanding, improving human welfare and promoting the construction of a global community of shared future for mankind in outer space.

Thank you. Next, my colleagues and I will take your questions.