China’s space agency has offered details about its next journey to the Moon, announcing plans to launch the expedition sometime next year. Dubbed Chang’e-6, the mission would mark Beijing’s second attempt to obtain physical samples from the Earth’s natural satellite.
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) took to social media on Friday to preview mission, saying the project was going “as planned” and that the launch would take place in 2024.
“The pre-selected landing area for the Chang’e-6 mission is located in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the Moon, with a view to discovering and collecting lunar samples from different regions and ages to enhance human understanding of the moon,” the agency said.