China's Chang'e 6 mission will collect rocks from Earth's moon. Photo: Shutterstock

Topic

Chang’e 6i

China is expected to launch its next robot lunar lander in 2024, with Chang’e 6 collecting samples near the lunar south pole before returning to Earth.

Advertisement
  • Chinese spacecraft begins 53-day journey to collect soil and rocks and bring them back to Earth for study
  • It will also transport equipment from international scientists to test lunar atmosphere and carry out imaging
videocam

Queqiao-2 communication relay satellite arrived 440km above the moon’s surface early on Monday, says CNSA; state media says ‘work is under way to address’ DRO-A/B satellites that failed to reach their designated altitude after March 13 launch.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement

Geopolitical rivals take competition to celestial heights, with satellite positioning and control of ideal routes between Earth and the moon at stake.

videocam

It may be a good idea to test out propulsion and lander technologies first in space, author and space policy expert at Arizona State University says.

videocam

Chang’e 6, the next mission in China’s moon programme, should launch in 2024. It will carry science payloads and satellites, and return more moon rocks to Earth.

videocam

Robotic probe was the first in a series of Russian missions planned as part of ILRS project but spun out of control and collided with the lunar surface on Saturday.

videocam

Wu Weiren said the next phase of the Chang’e lunar project aims to launch a spacecraft to begin surveying the south pole within 2 years

videocam