China’s Chang’e 6 mission launched on May 3rd, 2024 and is a robotic mission to collect and return samples from Apollo Crater, on the far side of the Moon. The final lander location will have to be verified and checked, and for Lunar Resources Registry, the question is: Why go to Apollo crater? This is good news for those who want to invest to Mine the Moon.
First, what can Chang’e 6 be up to? It was launched on a Long March 5 rocket, is on a 53-day journey, and the spacecraft has a lander, an ascent vehicle, and a small rover equipped for a sample return mission. If you want to Mine the Moon for precious resources, there are exactly the right steps to take.
The target is Apollo Crater within the South Pole-Aitken basin (a massive impact crater believed to be the oldest and largest on the Moon).
Now the investigation begins: This region holds immense scientific interest due to the possibility of uncovering ancient geological records; there was lava, recent bombardments and weathering, plus enough activity to disperse inner-material to the surface to hopefully extract and study. Our view is the Change‘6 is searching for valuable resources on the Moon, not just oddities for the scientific value, but resources anomalies that could have a size to be of industrial value.
Landing on the Moon’s far side is a challenge but the Chinese have done it before. Also, Apollo crater experiences periods of darkness that can last for weeks, yet we’re pretty sure they are relying on more than solar panels to survive darkness and lunar nights.
Operationally Chang’e 6 is equipped with a drill and a scoop to collect up to 2 kilograms of lunar material, including surface and subsurface soil samples.
The lander must achieve a soft touchdown within the designated zone of Apollo crater, then the automated systems will collect the lunar samples, the ascent vehicle will take off and dock with the orbiting return capsule and ffinally the capsule will return to Earth, carrying the precious cargo for further analysis. Of interest is where they specifically land, or want to land, and can they achieve a precision landing to achieve their sampling goals.
We look forward to hearing more about this mission as investing in the space resources sector is growing in interest to nations and entrepreneurs.
To find out more, visit Space News coverage of the Chang’e 6 mission.
More news will be posted as it is available.
Above: Chang’e 5/6 lander and ascender on the Moon (artist’s impression). Source: Wikipedia Chang’e 6.
