International Support for China's Chang'e-6 Lunar Mission

Written by Copernical Team Tuesday, 07 May 2024 15:25

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

Write a comment

Sydney, Australia (SPX) May 06, 2024

On Friday, an international gathering praised the robust global partnership involved in China's Chang'e-6 lunar mission and expressed a unified intent to expand cooperation in lunar and deep space ventures. Hosted by the China National Space Administration, approximately 50 representatives from 12 nations and various global entities convened at a seminar to deliberate on the international

International Support for China's Chang'e-6 Lunar Mission
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) May 06, 2024

On Friday, an international gathering praised the robust global partnership involved in China's Chang'e-6 lunar mission and expressed a unified intent to expand cooperation in lunar and deep space ventures.

Hosted by the China National Space Administration, approximately 50 representatives from 12 nations and various global entities convened at a seminar to deliberate on the international instruments aboard Chang'e-6 and observed the mission's launch from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan Province.

This mission, poised to be the first to retrieve samples from the moon's far side, integrates four international payloads. This collaborative effort aims to enhance global scientific contributions and foster a more integrated approach to space exploration.

The Chang'e-6 lander includes scientific tools from France, Italy, and the European Space Agency, while the orbiter carries a compact satellite from Pakistan.

"We are very proud to be part of this historic mission," said Pierre-Yves Meslin, Detection of Outgassing RadoN (DORN) Principal Investigator from France, expressing anticipation for future Franco-Chinese space endeavors.

Professor Qamarul Islam from Pakistan's Institute of Space Technology lauded the cooperation, highlighting the importance of providing space research opportunities to smaller nations.

"All of us have a shared future," remarked Khalil-ur-Rahman Hashmi, the Pakistani ambassador to China, noting that the launch exemplifies the shared technological benefits extending to various nations and organizations.

"The very nature of space exploration encourages us to think of our planet as one, and encourages us to think of humanity together. It is absolutely key for us to continue our young journey out into the cosmos by working together," added Neil Melville-Kenney, Negative Ions on the Lunar Surface (NILS) Technical Officer of ESA.

Based on a Xinhua News Agency article