Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, China National Space Administration, Beijing, China

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Chang’e-6 landed on the Moon

Jun 2, 2024

According to the China National Space Administration (CNSA), the Chang’e-6 lunar lander began the powered descent on 1 June 2024, at 22:09 UTC (2 June, at 06:09 China Standard Time) and landed in the Apollo crater, located in the South Pole-Aitkin impact basin on the far side of the Moon, on 1 June 2024, at 22:23 UTC (2 June, at 06:23 China Standard Time). The Chang’e-6 lunar mission (嫦娥六号) aims to collect soil samples and return them to Earth, as well as conduct scientific measurements of the lunar environment.

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Chang’e-6 landing (Onboard camera view)

Jun 2, 2024

The Chang’e-6 lunar lander landed in the Apollo crater, located in the South Pole-Aitkin impact basin on the far side of the Moon, on 1 June 2024, at 22:23 UTC (2 June, at 06:23 China Standard Time).
Credit: China National Space Administration (CNSA)

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Jun 4, 2024

According to the China National Space Administration (CNSA), the Chang’e-6 lunar lander has successfully transferred into the lunar ascender module the soil samples collected from the Apollo crater, located in the South Pole-Aitkin impact basin on the far side of the Moon. On 3 June 2024, at 23:38 UTC (4 June, at 07:38 China Standard Time), the Chang’e-6 lunar ascender has lifted off from the Apollo crater and successfully entered the planned lunar orbit after about 6 minutes.

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Chang’e-6’s panoramic image from the far side of the Moon

Jun 5, 2024

Chang’e-6 lunar lander’s panoramic camera captured high-definition images of the landing site in the Apollo crater, located in the South Pole-Aitkin impact basin on the far side of the Moon.
Credit: China Central Television (CCTV)/China National Space Administration (CNSA)

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Chang’e-6 docking and sample transfer

Jun 6, 2024

According to the China National Space Administration (CNSA), the Chang’e-6 lunar ascender docked to the orbiter on 6 June 2024, at 06:48 UTC (14:48 China Standard Time) and transferred the samples collected from the far side of the Moon into the return capsule at 07:24 UTC (15:24 China Standard Time).