China is gearing up for another mission to the far side of the moon, with the launch of the uncrewed Chang’e-6 scheduled for Friday. This mission marks the first of three planned over the coming years, aligning with China’s ambitious goal of landing a human on the lunar surface by 2030.
The launch window is expected to fall between 8:30 a.m. GMT and 11 a.m. GMT, and if successful, this mission would significantly bolster China’s lunar exploration efforts and further its aspirations of manned moon landings within the next decade.
However, China’s lunar endeavors have also sparked concern from its major rival, the United States. The US has raised questions about Beijing’s geopolitical intentions, characterizing the situation as a new “space race,” according to the head of NASA.
Since its inaugural Chang’e mission in 2007, named after the mythical Chinese moon goddess, China has made significant strides in lunar exploration. Closing the technological gap with the United States and Russia, China has demonstrated remarkable progress in its space program.
The upcoming Chang’e-6 mission faces unique challenges, particularly as it ventures to the moon’s “hidden” side. It will rely on a recently deployed relay satellite orbiting the moon for communication during its 53-day mission, including a never-before-attempted ascent from the lunar surface.
Following Chang’e-6, China plans to launch the uncrewed Chang’e-7 and Chang’e-8 missions in 2026 and 2028, respectively. These missions will focus on exploring the moon’s south pole for water and establishing a rudimentary outpost in collaboration with Russia, as part of China’s broader aim to put astronauts on the moon by 2030.
Chang’e-6’s objectives include retrieving samples from the south pole Aitken Basin, shedding light on significant solar system activity billions of years ago. The Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) intends to share these samples internationally, akin to its collaboration with the moon rocks collected during previous missions.
China’s space program holds significant strategic importance within the country’s national strategy, symbolizing technological prowess and advancement. While Beijing’s polar exploration plans have raised concerns from NASA regarding resource claims and military objectives, China emphasizes its commitment to cooperation and a “shared” future in space exploration.
