Key factors in selecting Chang'e-6 landing site revealed

The landing site of China's Chang'e-6 lunar probe holds scientific significance and is convenient for further procedures in conducting its mission, including sampling and returning from the far side of the moon, according to an engineer of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

At 10:12 (Beijing Time) Wednesday, Chang'e-6 successfully performed a near-moon braking procedure before entering the circumlunar orbit, according to the China National Space Administration.

The next step involves the lander-ascender combination conducting a soft landing on the South Pole-Aitken Basin before proceeding with the planned sampling and return mission on the far side of the moon.

The colossal SPA Basin was formed by a celestial collision over four billion years ago and has a diameter of 2,500 kilometers. It is the oldest and largest impact crater on the moon and in the solar system, and it may provide the earliest information about the moon.

"Globally, more than ten missions collecting and returning samples have been conducted from the near side of the moon. However, there may exist even more ancient lunar soil on the far side. Thus, whatever samples we collect from the moon's far side hold high scientific significance," said Lu Yuntong, an engineer of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

The landing location underscores the need to carefully consider both the scientific significance and the engineering challenges involved. The operation of spacecraft, including Chang'e-6, relies on solar panels for power generation. Therefore, engineers must take into account the solar illumination available on the far side of the moon to ensure the success of the mission.

"Our spacecraft depends on solar illumination for power generation, and this illumination varies with latitude. For this mission, we have selected a landing site in a region with moderate latitude. We chose the South Pole-Aitken Basin due to its adequate solar illumination and reliable communication signals, meeting the engineering standards," said Lu.

The China-Kazakhstan Logistics Cooperation Base in Lianyungang City, east China’s Jiangsu Province has handled more than 30,000 TEUs so far this year, according to data released on Friday by the Nanjing Customs.

The volume achieved a year-on-year increase of 32.8 percent, the data showed.

The freight trains handled by the logistics base serve customers in Central Asian countries and regions such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, transporting over 100 varieties of goods including finished vehicles, home appliances, clothing, food, and potash fertilizers.