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Introduction to China’s Chang E-6 Mission

China’s Chang E-6 Mission: China is about to launch its “Surface Sample Return” type of lunar mission next year in the month of May. Surprisingly, there is a rise of hope for Pakistan, because Pakistan also has asked china to send their ICECUBE-Q ‘Cubesat’ satellite to the moon with China’s Long March 5 rocket, and China agreed to do so. If this mission succeeds, then Pakistan will become the 10^th country in this world that successfully reach the moon.

This news getting the limelight as Pakistan’s hope getting nuclei of light. In this blog, we are going to cover this news and also tell you almost everything about China’s Chang E-6 Mission which is supposed to be launched in May 2024. This blog is also important as per UPSC Prelim important Questions.

So, let’s start-

Facts about China’s Chang E-6 Mission

We have added all the relatable information about China’s Chang E-6 Mission in the table below:

Fact	Information
Name of Lunar Mission	Chang'e-6
Scheduled Launch	May 2024
Place of Launch	Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, Hainan Island
Total Payload	Approximately 8,200 kg (18,100 lb)
Type of Mission	Surface Sample Return
Mission Duration	Approximately 53 days
Manufacturer	China Academy of Space Technology (CAST)
Launch Mass	8,200 kg (18,100 lb)
Launch Date	May 2024
Rocket	Long March 5
Launch Site	Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, Hainan Island
Landing Site	Southern edge of Apollo Basin
Aim of Mission	To collect lunar samples and return them to Earth
Price of Chang'e-6 Mission	Not Disclosed – But roughly round ~1.9 - 2.4 Billion Chinese Yuan
Pakistan's Role	ICECUBE-Q cubesat to detect lunar ice traces

Overview of Chang E-6 Mission

The Chang'e-6 mission, slated for a May 2024 launch, stands as a pivotal chapter in China's Lunar Exploration Program. As the nation's second sample return mission, it follows its illustrious predecessors, each named after the Chinese moon goddess Chang'e. This ambitious mission is designed to delve deep into the lunar surface and bring back invaluable lunar samples.

China’s Chang E-6 Mission is manufactured by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), Chang'e-6 boasts an impressive launch mass of approximately 8,200 kg. It is set to embark on a mission with an estimated duration of around 53 days.

The spacecraft's journey will begin with liftoff from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on Hainan Island, propelled into space by the mighty Long March 5 rocket. Upon reaching the lunar surface, Chang'e-6 will touch down on the southern edge of the Apollo Basin.

The primary aim of this mission is to collect lunar samples, furthering our understanding of the Moon's geology and history. Notably, Chang'e-6's significance extends beyond China's borders. It invites international collaboration, including the participation of the Pakistani ICECUBE-Q cubesat, which will play a pivotal role in positioning Pakistan in the race of space exploration again.

With Chang'e-6, China not only seeks to uncover lunar secrets but also continues to shape the future of lunar exploration, inching closer to the prospect of human lunar landings and the establishment of a research station near the Moon's south pole. This mission promises to reveal new facets of our celestial neighbor and broaden our horizons in lunar science.

Payloads of Chang E-6 Spacecraft

Back in October 2018, China invited other countries to join in on their Chang'e-6 lunar mission. They asked if any international partners had lightweight scientific equipment, weighing up to 10 kilograms (about 22 pounds), that they'd like to send to the Moon.

Fast forward to November 2022, and it was officially confirmed that four foreign nations were bringing their scientific gear along on the Chang'e-6 journey:

1. France is sending a tool called DORN. It's meant to help scientists understand how things like lunar dust and gases move around between the Moon's surface and its super-thin atmosphere. They're especially interested in studying the Moon's water cycle.

2. Italy is contributing INRRI, which is like a special mirror that reflects laser beams. It's used to make incredibly precise measurements of distances. Think of it as a high-tech tool similar to what was used on missions like Schiaparelli and InSight.

3. Sweden is sending an instrument called NILS. Its job is to seek out and measure tiny, electrically charged particles known as negative ions that bounce off the Moon's surface.

4. Pakistan is getting in on the lunar action with ICECUBE-Q, a small satellite. Its mission is to search for any signs of ice on the Moon's surface.

These unique tools from various countries will collaborate with China's own instruments to unravel more secrets about the Moon and its surroundings.

Chang E-6 Mission’s Architecture

The architecture of the Chang'e-6 mission is a well-thought-out and precisely engineered system designed for the intricate task of lunar sample collection and return. This mission, constructed as a mirror image and backup of the Chang'e-5 mission, consists of four distinct modules, each with its specific role to fulfill:

1. Lander: The lander, weighing around 3,200 kilograms (approximately 7,100 pounds), serves as the spacecraft's vital component that will physically touch down on the lunar surface.

Its primary mission objective is to collect lunar samples from beneath the lunar soil, reaching as deep as 2 meters (about 6.6 feet) below the surface.

These samples are the coveted scientific treasure that the mission aims to bring back to Earth for analysis.

2. Ascent Vehicle: Adjacent to the lander, the ascent vehicle plays a crucial role in the lunar mission's success.

Weighing approximately 700 kilograms (around 1,500 pounds), this component is tasked with the delicate mission of ferrying the collected lunar samples from the lunar surface into lunar orbit.

It is designed to operate autonomously and robotically rendezvous with the next module, the orbiter.

3. Orbiter: The orbiter serves as the intermediary link in the sample return process. Once the ascent vehicle completes its lunar rendezvous, the orbiter takes over, providing a platform where the collected lunar samples are transferred.

This step involves a meticulous robotic transfer process. The orbiter is the vehicle responsible for the critical task of carrying the lunar samples from the Moon to Earth.

4. Sample-Return Capsule: The final module in this meticulously orchestrated system is the sample-return capsule.

This capsule is designed to safely house and protect the lunar samples for their journey back to Earth.

It's a crucial component for ensuring that the samples survive the harsh conditions of re-entry into Earth's atmosphere.

The entire mission has an estimated launch mass of 8,200 kilograms (approximately 18,100 pounds). This mass allocation ensures that each module can perform its designated function with precision and reliability. The combined efforts of these modules in a synchronized ballet enable Chang'e-6 to fulfill its ambitious goal of collecting lunar samples and successfully returning them to Earth.

Objectives & Expectations of China’s Chang E-6 Mission

There are many objectives of China’s Chang E-6 Mission. We have listed the key Objectives and expectations of China’s Chang E-6 Mission below:

1. Collect approximately 2 kg (4.4 lb) of lunar samples from 2 meters (6.6 ft) below the lunar surface.

2. Safely transfer collected lunar samples to an ascent vehicle.

3. Perform fully autonomous and robotic rendezvous and docking with an orbiter.

4. Transfer lunar samples into a sample-return capsule within lunar orbit.

5. Ensure the secure delivery of lunar samples from the capsule to Earth.

6. Expand our understanding of the Moon's geology and history through sample analysis.

7. Facilitate international collaboration, with contributions from partner countries' scientific payloads.

8. Advance China's Lunar Exploration Program and contribute to long-term lunar exploration objectives, including crewed lunar missions and the development of a lunar research station.

9. Investigate the southern edge of the Apollo Basin on the lunar surface to gather valuable geological data.

10. Contribute to our understanding of lunar resources, including the presence of water ice on the Moon, which is essential for future lunar exploration and potential human habitation.

Chang E Series

We have listed all the Chang E’s Mission with their key details like their launch date, weight, mission’s price, aim of mission and status of the mission below:

Chang'e 1

1. Launch Date: October 24, 2007

2. Total Weight of Rocket: The Chang'e 1 mission was launched using a Long March 3A rocket, which had a total weight of around 241 metric tons.

3. Price of Mission: The cost of the Chang'e 1 mission was estimated to be around 1.4 billion Chinese yuan (approximately $182 million USD).

4. Aim: Chang'e 1 was China's first lunar mission and was primarily designed for lunar orbiting and remote sensing. Its goals included mapping the lunar surface, studying lunar soil composition, and providing data for future lunar missions.

5. Status: Chang'e 1 was a success. It completed its mission objectives and provided valuable data about the Moon.

Chang'e 2

1. Launch Date: October 1, 2010

2. Total Weight of Rocket: Chang'e 2 was launched using a Long March 3C rocket, with a total weight of around 241 metric tons.

3. Price of Mission: The cost of the Chang'e 2 mission was estimated to be around 1.9 billion Chinese yuan (approximately $282 million USD).

4. Aim: Chang'e 2 was a follow-up to Chang'e 1. Its primary goals were to further explore and map the Moon, study landing sites for future missions, and test technology for deep-space travel.

5. Status: Chang'e 2 was a success. It completed its mission objectives and later embarked on an extended mission to explore the Sun-Earth L2 point.

Chang'e 3

1. Launch Date: December 1, 2013

2. Total Weight of Rocket: Chang'e 3 was launched using a Long March 3B rocket, with a total weight of around 487 metric tons.

3. Price of Mission: The cost of the Chang'e 3 mission was estimated to be around 1.4 billion Chinese yuan (approximately $224 million USD).

4. Aim: Chang'e 3 aimed to be China's first mission to successfully soft-land on the Moon. It carried the Yutu rover, also known as the Jade Rabbit, to study the lunar surface, geology, and perform experiments.

5. Status: Chang'e 3 was a success. It achieved a soft landing on the Moon, and the Yutu rover conducted scientific exploration.

Chang'e 4

1. Launch Date: December 7, 2018

2. Total Weight of Rocket: Chang'e 4 was launched using a Long March 3B rocket, with a total weight of around 487 metric tons.

3. Price of Mission: The cost of the Chang'e 4 mission was not publicly disclosed, but it was expected to be similar in cost to the Chang'e 3 mission.

4. Aim: Chang'e 4 was designed to be the first mission to land on the far side of the Moon. It aimed to study the geology, environment, and perform radio astronomy observations from the lunar far side.

5. Status: Chang'e 4 was a success. It successfully landed on the lunar far side and continues to operate as of my last knowledge update in September 2021.

Chang'e 5

1. Launch Date: November 23, 2020

2. Total Weight of Rocket: Chang'e 5 was launched using a Long March 5 rocket, with a total weight of around 869 metric tons.

3. Price of Mission: The cost of the Chang'e 5 mission was estimated to be around 8.2 billion Chinese yuan (approximately $1.26 billion USD).

4. Aim: Chang'e 5 aimed to return lunar samples to Earth, making it the first lunar sample return mission in over four decades. It had the goal of collecting samples from the Moon's surface and returning them to Earth for analysis.

5. Status: Chang'e 5 was a success. It successfully collected lunar samples, and the return capsule safely landed on Earth with the samples in December 2020.

Pakistan’s Hope for their Moral Boost – Pakistan’s Role in China’s Lunar Mission

In the backdrop of recent developments, where India achieved the remarkable feat of successfully landing on the Moon's south pole through its Chandrayaan-3 mission, the competitive spirit of Pakistan with India in the realm of almost everything, but in this context, mainly for space exploration, has gained prominence.

This regional enimity & self proclaimed rivelry has positioned Pakistan in a unique perspective, igniting a compelling drive to also leave its mark on the lunar surface. In this pursuit, China has emerged as a significant ally, extending its support to Pakistan in its lunar ambitions through the Chang'e-6 mission.

Notably, Chang'e-6 has garnered participation from various nations, including France, Italy, and Sweden, reflecting the collaborative nature of modern space exploration.

For Pakistan, this lunar mission holds profound significance. If the ICECUBE-Q cubesat, a product of this partnership, successfully reaches the Moon's surface, Pakistan would proudly join the ranks of countries that have achieved lunar missions, marking its name as the tenth nation to have a lunar presence.

The distinction may arise from collaborative efforts, but it symbolizes Pakistan's determination to participate in the cosmic voyage.

In the context of regional competition and global space exploration, the Chang'e-6 mission presents Pakistan with a platform not only to pursue its lunar aspirations but also to enhance its scientific standing on the international stage.

Regardless of the path taken, the moon's surface remains a stage for nations to showcase their pursuit of knowledge and discovery.

Read: India’s 12^th Grader Made Cubesat “InQube” – launched by ISRO

FAQs Related to China’s Chang E-6 Mission

Question-1: What is Chang E 6?

Answer. Chang E 6 is a planned robotic Chinese lunar exploration mission.

Question-2: What are China's recent space missions?

Answer. China has been conducting a series of space missions, including lunar exploration missions like Chang'e 3, 4, and 5, and Mars missions like Tianwen-1.

Question-3: What is the goal of the Chinese Moon Program?

Answer. The Chinese Moon Program aims to explore the Moon's surface, collect lunar samples, and conduct scientific research for lunar exploration and future crewed lunar missions.

Question-4: What is a Chinese lunar lander?

Answer. A Chinese lunar lander is a spacecraft designed to touch down on the lunar surface, conduct experiments, collect samples, and perform various scientific tasks.

Question-5: What is the latest news on China's Moon mission?

Answer. The latest news on China's Moon mission can be found in reputable space news outlets or official sources like the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

Question-6: What is the objective of China's lunar missions?

Answer. China's lunar missions aim to advance our understanding of the Moon's geology, history, and resources, as well as prepare for future crewed lunar missions and lunar exploration.

Question-7: Where can I find the latest news on China's Moon mission?

Answer. You can find the latest news on China's Moon mission in space-related news websites or by following updates from space agencies like CNSA.

Question-8: Has China successfully landed missions on the Moon?

Answer. Yes, China has successfully landed missions on the Moon, including Chang'e 3, 4, and 5.

Question-9: Have all of China's Moon missions been successful?

Answer. Most of China's Moon missions have been successful, but like any space program, there have been both successful and unsuccessful missions.

Question-10: What is the purpose of China's Moon sample return missions?

Answer. China's Moon sample return missions aim to collect lunar soil and rock samples and bring them back to Earth for scientific analysis.

Question-11: What is the estimated cost of China's Moon missions?

Answer. The exact cost of China's Moon missions can vary, but they are significant investments in space exploration.

Question-12: What are China's future plans for lunar missions?

Answer. China's future plans for lunar missions include crewed lunar landings and the development of a lunar research station.

Question-13: What is China's next planned Moon mission after Chang'e 6?

Answer. China's next Moon Mission is Chang'e 7. This is a planned robotic lunar exploration mission which is set to launch in 2026. This mission is dedicated to exploring the lunar south pole and, in keeping with tradition, is named after the Chinese moon goddess Chang'e.

Question-14: How does the Chang'e-6 mission relate to UPSC or civil service examinations?

Answer. Chang'e-6 and other space missions may be relevant for UPSC aspirants studying topics related to science, technology, and international collaborations.

Question-15: How can knowledge about China's lunar missions be useful for UPSC preparation?

Answer. Understanding China's lunar missions can be relevant for UPSC exams as it reflects international space exploration and cooperation.

Question-16: What is Pakistan's role in China's Chang'e-6 mission with ICECUBE-Q?

Answer. Pakistan's ICECUBE-Q cubesat is part of Chang'e-6's international collaboration efforts to detect lunar ice traces.

Question-17: What is the Long March 5 rocket, and how is it related to Chang'e-6?

Answer. The Long March 5 rocket is the launch vehicle used for Chang'e-6 to transport it into space.

Question-18: How long is the planned duration of the Chang'e-6 mission?

Answer. The planned duration of the Chang'e-6 mission is approximately 53 days.

Question-19: What type of mission is Chang'e-6?

Answer. Chang'e-6 is a surface sample return mission, aiming to collect lunar samples and return them to Earth.

Question-20: What is the total payload capacity of the Chang'e-6 mission?

Answer. The total payload capacity of the Chang'e-6 mission is not specified, but it includes scientific instruments and equipment required for the mission.

Question-21: When is Chang'e-6 scheduled to launch?

Answer. Chang'e-6 is scheduled to launch in May 2024.

Question-22: Where will Chang'e-6 be launched from?

Answer. Chang'e-6 will be launched from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on Hainan Island, China.

Question-23: What is the primary aim of the Chang'e-6 mission?

Answer. The primary aim of the Chang'e-6 mission is to collect lunar samples from the Moon's surface and return them to Earth for scientific study.

Question-24: What is the estimated cost or price of the Chang'e-6 mission?

Answer. The specific cost or price of the Chang'e-6 mission has not been publicly disclosed, but it represents a significant investment in lunar exploration.