For the first time, China is providing access to lunar materials collected by the Chang’e 5 mission for research proposals by international scientists. China’s National Space Administration (CNSA) said in a statement. On their website on 2 August, they outlined opportunities and outlined the rules for future governance of international research collaboration. monthly examples and scientific data.

Mission Change 5 Return of monthly samples starting in November 2020 and return after 23 days With 3.81 pounds (1.73 kilograms) of lunar material collected from the region of Oceanus Procellarum (“Ocean of Storms”).

Samples have long been open to offers from Chinese research institutions. Research using them has made a number of discoveries, including clues about nature. lunar volcanism And unexpected amount of water The moon is locked in glass balls. But now valuable samples will become more accessible.

Proposals may be submitted to the CNSA and reviewed semi-annually. The CNSA’s Center for Lunar Research and Space Engineering (LESEC) will be in charge of the research, while the National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the main curating agency for lunar samples, will oversee the distribution and return of lunar samples. .

Next year, China plans to follow up with Chang’e 5 with an even more complex and ambitious sample return mission. Change 6Launched around May 2024, it will attempt to collect the first samples from the far side of the Moon. The goal will be to retrieve material from the Apollo crater, which contains rocks derived from the lunar mantle. Source