Supported by the Queqiao-2 relay satellite, the lander-ascender combination of Chang'e-6 landed at the designated area at 6:23 a.m. (Beijing Time) in the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin.
Chang'e-6 includes an orbiter, a returner, a lander, and an ascender. Since its launch on May 3, it has undergone stages such as Earth-moon transfer, near-moon braking, lunar orbiting, and landing descent. The lander-ascender combination separated from the orbiter-returner combination on May 30, according to the CNSA.
The lander-ascender combination began its descent at 6:09 a.m. The main engine with variable thrust was ignited, adjusting its attitude and approaching the lunar surface. An autonomous visual obstacle avoidance system detected obstacles using a visible light camera, selecting a safe landing area.
The combination hovered about 100 meters above the landing area, using a laser 3D scanner to detect obstacles and select the final landing site before descending vertically. It then shut down the engine and touched down via free fall, protected by a cushioning system.
The Chang'e-6 mission aims to collect and return samples from the moon's far side, marking the first such effort in human lunar exploration. It has achieved a major breakthrough in the design and control technology of the lunar retrograde orbit and aims to develop key technologies for intelligent and rapid sampling, as well as takeoff and ascent from the far side of the moon.
The landing site at Apollo Basin within the SPA Basin was chosen for its scientific potential and favorable landing conditions, including communication, telemetry, and terrain flatness, said Huang Hao, a space expert from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
Huang noted that the terrain on the moon's far side is more rugged, with fewer flat areas. However, the Apollo Basin is flatter, facilitating landing. The lander is equipped with sensors, including microwave, laser, and optical imaging sensors, to measure distance, speed, and identify obstacles. Gamma-ray sensors ensure accurate height measurement during landing.
After landing, the probe is set to complete sampling within two days, using a drill for subsurface samples and a robotic arm for surface samples. Jin Shengyi, another space expert from CASC, said the Chang'e-6 team has created a simulation lab to ensure a smooth sampling process.
Due to limited communication windows on the moon's far side, the sampling time of Chang'e-6 will be about 14 hours, compared to 22 hours for its predecessor Chang'e-5. The sampling process has been made more intelligent, allowing Chang'e-6 to execute instructions and make autonomous judgments, reducing Earth-moon interactions.
Approximately 1,000 instructions were sent during Chang'e-5's sampling process. For Chang'e-6, this number is expected to be about 400.
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