China's Chang'e-6 scheduled for launch in first half of 2024

BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China's Chang'e-6 lunar probe is scheduled for launch in the first half of this year, the China National Space Administration said Wednesday.

Components for the Chang'e-6 lunar probe have been transported to the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in the southern province of Hainan, and pre-launch tests will be carried out as scheduled, the agency said.

Currently, the facilities at the launch site are in good condition and preparatory work is underway as planned, it added.

The Chang'e-6 is set to collect samples from the far side of the moon, marking a mission that will be the first of its kind in human history.

The mission is poised to make breakthroughs in key technologies, such as automatic sample collection, take-off and ascent from the far side of the moon. Meanwhile, the probe will carry out scientific exploration of the landing zone.

The CNSA has announced that scientific instruments from France, Italy and the European Space Agency/Sweden will be onboard the lander of the Chang'e-6 mission, and a Pakistani payload on the orbiter.