China prepares to launch Chang’e-6 lunar probe

The Chang’e-6 lunar probe is scheduled for launch at an appropriate time at the beginning of May, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced that the Chang’e-6 lunar probe, along with the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket, was vertically transferred to the launch area at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan Province, South China, on Saturday.

The combination, mounted on a removable launch pad, was moved out of the vertical test building and safely transported to its designated launching area.

Before the launch, functional checks, joint testing, and propellant filling will be conducted.

Both the Chang’e 6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket arrived at the launch site in January and March, respectively. Following their arrivals, assembly, testing, and other preparations were sequentially completed.

The mission aims to collect samples from the far side of the moon, marking a historic milestone as the first of its kind in human history.