In a significant milestone for China's space exploration program, a Chinese spacecraft has successfully landed on the far side of the moon to collect valuable soil and rock samples. This mission, known as Chang'e 6, marks the sixth endeavor in China's moon exploration program named after the Chinese moon goddess.

The landing module touched down at 6:23 a.m. Beijing time within the vast South Pole-Aitken Basin, a massive crater estimated to be 8 miles deep and with a diameter of 1,500 miles. This particular crater, believed to be over 4 billion years old, is the oldest and largest of its kind on the moon, making it a fascinating area to explore. The China National Space Administration confirmed the successful landing of the spacecraft.

The primary objective of the Chang'e 6 mission is to gather soil and rock samples from the less-explored far side of the moon. This collection will allow scientists to gain insights into the differences between the far side and the better-known near side of the moon. The lander will utilize a mechanical arm and a drill to meticulously gather up to 4.4 pounds of surface and underground materials over a span of approximately two days.

To facilitate communication with the lander on the far side of the moon, China has employed the use of a relay satellite. This is necessary as the far side does not face the Earth directly. Additionally, the rugged terrain on the far side poses challenges, with a scarcity of flat landing areas. Nevertheless, China's determination and expertise have enabled them to overcome these obstacles.

Once the samples are collected, an ascender atop the lander will transfer them to an orbiting module created specifically for this purpose. The samples will be placed within a metal vacuum container. Eventually, a re-entry capsule will transport these samples back to Earth, with a planned landing in the deserts of China's Inner Mongolia region around June 25.

China's moon exploration program is part of its growing rivalry with other space-exploring nations, including the United States, Japan, and India. Besides its moon missions, China has already deployed its own space station in orbit and regularly sends crews there. With aspirations to put a person on the moon by 2030, China aims to become the second nation after the United States to achieve this feat.

While the United States continues to set its sights on the moon with plans to land astronauts there for the first time in over 50 years, technical challenges have repeatedly delayed its private-sector rocket launches. Just recently, Boeing's first astronaut flight had to be postponed due to last-minute computer issues. Furthermore, a Japanese billionaire canceled his plan to orbit the moon due to uncertainties surrounding the development of a mega rocket by SpaceX, which NASA plans to use for moon missions.

As China's Chang'e 6 mission continues its groundbreaking exploration on the far side of the moon, scientists anticipate that the samples collected from the South Pole-Aitken Basin will provide valuable information about the moon's earliest history. This endeavor signifies China's expanding presence and expertise in the realm of space exploration, as it strives to establish itself as a global leader in this field.