China’s “Chang’e 6” Moon Mission to Carry Pakistani Satellite

China’s Moon mission “Chang’e-6” which is to be launched in the first half of next year will carry a Pakistani satellite to the moon, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) has announced.  

On its social media site “Weibo” the CNSA announced that the Chang E6 mission will be launched to the moon in the first half of 2024.

The Chang’e-6 will be traveling to the ‘dark side’ of the moon. For the first time, samples from the dark side of the moon’s surface will be collected. The mission aimed to collect samples from different parts of Luna to help determine its age.

“Will Carry Payloads from 4 Countries”

It will carry payloads to the moon from Pakistan, the “European Space Agency” (ESA), France and Italy. It will also carry French instruments to test radioactive gas. Similarly, the ESA’s Negative Ion Detector and Italy’s Valle Brett Radar System will also be taken to the moon by this mission. This China’s moon mission will send the Pakistani satellite “CubeSat” to the moon’s orbit. China is accelerating the International Lunar Research Station project and more international partnerships are expected to follow.

“Two China’s Moon missions to follow”

The CNSA also said that this will follow, the “Chang’e-7 robotic mission” to be sent to the moon’s south pole. They will search for ‘signs of ice’ and examine the weather and atmosphere. Interestingly, the “Chang’e 8” mission will conclude the Chang’e missions.  Chang’e-8 is expected to establish a research station. 

A decade ago in 2013, China’s Chang’e-5 successfully collected Lunar samples and returned to Earth. This made China the third country after the United States and Russia to achieve this success.  

China supports Pakistan’s space research, but local management and infrastructure challenges hinder progress. Criticisms arose after India’s mission success, questioning SUPARCO’s leadership by an Army general over a space scientist.