China will make the lunar material from its Chang'e 5 moon mission available to international researchers. However, they need research proposals before giving access to their prized sample which they received nearly three years ago.
Lunar Material From Chang'e 5 Moon Mission
In a statement published on its website on Aug. 2, the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) described the potential and established the guidelines for the future administration of international collaboration in moon samples and scientific data.
The Chang'e 5 lunar sample return mission was launched in November 2020. It returned 23 days after its launch with a sample - 3.81 pounds (1.73 kilograms) of lunar material from the Oceanus Procellarum ("Ocean of Storms") region of the Moon.
Chinese research organizations have always been welcome to submit applications for samples. They have been used in research that has yielded a number of findings, including hints about the nature of lunar volcanism and an unexpected quantity of water trapped inside lunar glass beads. However, the priceless samples will now be more freely available.
CNSA accepts proposals, which will be evaluated every six months. The National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the primary custodian of lunar samples, will be in charge of managing research, while the Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center (LESEC) of CNSA will be in charge of distribution and return of lunar samples.
Future Chinese Lunar Missions
China has been planning a number of moon missions following the success of Chang'e 5. Chang'e 6 is set to launch in 2024, Chang'e 7 in 2026 and Chang'e 8 probably in 2027 or later.
A projected lunar south pole sample return mission called Chang'e 6 will utilize a lander. It was created as a backup for Chang'e 5 with the goal to collect rocks from the lunar mantle that came from Apollo Crater.
The Queqiao relay satellite's continued operation and ability to enable ground communication with the far side will play a role in determining whether it lands on the nearside polar region or the farside South Pole-Aitken Basin. According to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp., the country's top space contractor, the country's upcoming robotic mission to the Moon will allow French scientists to use some of their equipment there for research purposes.
The orbiter of the Chang'e 6 mission will carry a Pakistani payload in addition to scientific instruments from France, Italy, and the European Space Agency/Sweden, CNSA added. If the mission is successful, it will be the first instance in which humans have obtained samples from the opposite side.
The south polar region of the Moon will be thoroughly surveyed by Chang'e 7 in terms of the terrain, geological makeup, sites of water ice, and space environment. Finding water ice in regions that are always in shadow will be one of the main goals, along with figuring out where it came from.
The purpose of Chang'e 8 is to evaluate the technology required to build a lunar science outpost. Additionally, surveys and research projects will be carried out.
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