Unveiling of Chang'e-6 Lunar Samples from the Moon's Far Side
Chang'e-6 lunar samples collected from the moon's far side have been revealed.
TroibNews 
The Chang'e-6 lunar mission, a project led by China, has successfully returned to Earth with 1,935.3 grams of lunar samples from the moon's far side, a first in the annals of space exploration.
These samples were secured in specially devised, hermetically sealed containers for their journey back to Earth. After nearly three months, these containers have been opened to reveal the lunar treasure within.
A journalist from China Media Group received the unique opportunity to visit the Lunar Sample Laboratory at the National Astronomical Observatories, which is part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
In the laboratory, the samples are allocated into 10 separate glass containers, each holding around 150 grams. These samples are notably lighter in color compared to those gathered during the Chang'e-5 mission, which is attributed to their distinct mineral compositions.
Exploration into these differences has already yielded fascinating insights, as elaborated in the initial research paper about the Chang'e-6 mission's findings, which was released on Tuesday.
The scientific analysis indicates that the soil samples from the Chang'e-6 mission exhibit a lower density than those collected in previous missions, suggesting a composition that is more porous and less compact. The principal mineralogical difference highlighted is the higher proportion of plagioclase and a markedly lower content of olivine in the Chang'e-6 samples compared to those from Chang'e-5.
These findings were published in the journal, National Science Review.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
These samples were secured in specially devised, hermetically sealed containers for their journey back to Earth. After nearly three months, these containers have been opened to reveal the lunar treasure within.
A journalist from China Media Group received the unique opportunity to visit the Lunar Sample Laboratory at the National Astronomical Observatories, which is part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
In the laboratory, the samples are allocated into 10 separate glass containers, each holding around 150 grams. These samples are notably lighter in color compared to those gathered during the Chang'e-5 mission, which is attributed to their distinct mineral compositions.
Exploration into these differences has already yielded fascinating insights, as elaborated in the initial research paper about the Chang'e-6 mission's findings, which was released on Tuesday.
The scientific analysis indicates that the soil samples from the Chang'e-6 mission exhibit a lower density than those collected in previous missions, suggesting a composition that is more porous and less compact. The principal mineralogical difference highlighted is the higher proportion of plagioclase and a markedly lower content of olivine in the Chang'e-6 samples compared to those from Chang'e-5.
These findings were published in the journal, National Science Review.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
