China Lands Chang'e-6 Spacecraft on Moon's Far Side
China Lands Chang'e-6 Spacecraft on Moon's Far Side
The Facts
The China National Space Administration has announced that the PRC's uncrewed Chang'e-6 spacecraft landed in the South Pole-Aitken Basin at 6:23 a.m. Beijing time on Sunday.
The China National Space Administration has announced that the PRC's uncrewed Chang'e-6 spacecraft successfully landed in a large crater on the far side of the moon called the South Pole-Aitken Basin at 6:23 a.m. Beijing time on Sunday.
The Spin
This successful landing shows the PRC's engineering prowess in space exploration. This mission — China's most complex robotic lunar endeavor to date — will provide an unprecedented comparison between the dark, unexplored region and the better-known near side and also be a key milestone in China's push to become a dominant space power.
A surge in missions to the moon is unfolding worldwide — a dangerous trend driven by the intent to dominate and monopolize the moon's resources for commercial purposes. China's growing space power, in particular, is a matter of grave concern, as Beijing may claim territoriality and leverage it to further its regional and domestic political and military interests.
