Xi Focus: Celebrating China’s Lunar Exploration Achievements

On Tuesday, the Chang’e 6 probe, which landed on the far side of the moon, proudly displayed a Chinese flag. This significant event was shared by China Daily.

Following the successful completion of the Chang’e-6 mission, which brought back the first-ever samples from the moon’s far side, President Xi Jinping quickly sent his congratulations.

“The remarkable contributions you have made will always be remembered by our country and its people,” Xi said in a message to everyone involved in the mission.

Xi Jinping, who is also the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has always been deeply invested in China’s lunar exploration efforts.

It is customary for the president to congratulate the team after each successful Chang’e mission.

Xi has also met with space scientists and engineers from the Chang’e-3, Chang’e-4, and Chang’e-5 missions, asking about their work and lives and taking photos with them.

From 2019 to 2021, Xi highlighted the achievements in lunar exploration in his New Year speeches.

“Great undertakings are based on innovation, which is crucial for our future,” Xi said in February 2019 when he met with representatives of the Chang’e-4 mission.

China’s researchers and engineers have followed Xi’s expectations by taking a self-reliant and innovative approach in the lunar exploration program.

Chang’e-4 made history by being the first mission to land softly on the far side of the moon. Its rover, Yutu-2, began exploring this rarely-visited area in 2019, marking the first human activity on the moon’s far side.

Launched in 2020, Chang’e-5 was China’s first mission to collect and return lunar samples to Earth. Unlike the sampling missions of the United States and the Soviet Union, China used a complex technological approach, including unmanned rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit, which allowed for more samples to be brought back and laid the groundwork for future manned lunar missions.

Building on the experience of Chang’e-5, Chang’e-6 made further advancements by collecting and returning samples from the moon’s far side, a first in human lunar exploration history.

“We must be bold in our pursuit of innovation, acquire core technologies, strive to be the backbone of the country’s aerospace industry, and reach new heights in space science and technology,” said Xiong Tianci, a young designer with the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, which developed the Long March-5 rockets that launched Chang’e-5 and Chang’e-6.

Xi has emphasized that exploring the universe is a shared dream of humanity and has highlighted the importance of international space cooperation for the benefit of all mankind.

China’s lunar exploration program demonstrates the country’s commitment to promoting international cooperation in space exploration.

China invites international applications for the lunar samples brought back by the Chang’e-5 and Chang’e-6 missions for scientific research. Scientists from countries like Australia, Russia, France, the United States, Britain, and Sweden have participated in studying the Chang’e-5 samples.

Chang’e-6 carried four international payloads from the European Space Agency (ESA), France, Italy, and Pakistan. Chang’e-7 will carry six international scientific instruments, and Chang’e-8 will offer 200 kilograms of international payload capacity and has received over 30 applications.

Xi’s guidance and support for the lunar exploration program have inspired many scientists and engineers who are dedicated to advancing major space projects, including deep space exploration and enhancing international cooperation.

“We will continue to foster independent innovation capabilities and improve the independent innovation system to achieve greater progress in space exploration,” said Zhang Gao, an expert involved in the development of the Chang’e-6 probe from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.