After a nearly two-month mission that posed significant challenges, the Chang’e-6 module successfully landed in the Inner Mongolia desert, an autonomous region of China, on Tuesday, June 25. This achievement marks a significant milestone, as the collected samples promise critical insights into the formation of planets.
China stands out as the only country to have conducted landings on the hidden side of the Moon. This feat was first accomplished in 2019 during the fourth of six planned lunar exploration missions, named after the Chinese moon goddess Chang’e.
The hidden side of the Moon, which is not visible from Earth, presents considerable technical challenges due to its distance and rugged terrain, characterized by massive craters and few flat areas.

Scientists are particularly interested in this less-explored region because it may contain traces of ice, which could be crucial for extracting resources such as water, oxygen, and hydrogen. These resources are significant for the potential establishment of exploration bases on other celestial bodies in the future.
The Chang’e-6 mission represents a point of pride for China, which has intensified its lunar exploration efforts, drawing global attention and directly competing with the United States.
State media showed images of officials raising the Chinese flag immediately after the Chang’e-6 capsule landed in the Inner Mongolia desert.
Chinese President Xi Jinping called to congratulate the team members at the lunar mission command center. During the call, Xi expressed his hope that the team would continue exploring deep space and reach new heights in unveiling the universe’s mysteries for the benefit of humanity and to advance national progress.
The Chang’e-6 probe was launched in early May and successfully reached a crater near the Moon’s south pole a few weeks later, culminating in a 53-day mission.
State broadcaster CCTV reported that the probe will be taken to Beijing, where the samples will be carefully extracted. This mission marks the sixth time China has explored the Moon and the second time operations have been conducted on the Moon’s hidden side.
The probe utilized a drill and a robotic arm to collect soil and rock samples, capture images of the surface, and raise a Chinese flag.
In the past decade, China has invested significant resources into its space program to catch up with the United States and Russia. The Asian nation plans to send a manned mission to the Moon by 2030 and eventually establish a base at the Moon’s south pole. Meanwhile, the United States plans to return astronauts to the Moon with the Artemis-3 mission by 2026.
Analysts note that the next space race will not only involve sending humans to the Moon but also determining who can claim and control the Moon’s resources. This competition extends beyond lunar exploration and technological milestones to geopolitical and strategic issues regarding ownership and usage rights of space resources. As global powers intensify their efforts to return to the Moon and explore beyond, the future of space research becomes a subtle and complex battlefield.
The ability to establish and maintain lunar bases will not only drive scientific and technological advances but also open new economic frontiers. Resources like water, minerals, and potential energy sources on the Moon could make space exploration a commercially viable and strategic endeavor.
In this context, the race to the Moon is not just symbolic; it has profound implications for the global power structure. Countries like China, the United States, and others are competing not only for leadership in space exploration but also for the ability to set norms and regulations governing the exploration of space resources.
As we enter a new era of space research, where scientific ambitions merge with strategic and economic interests, the Moon could become a testing ground for new forms of international cooperation and rivalries between powers. Defining who will have access to and control over the Moon’s resources could shape not only the future of space exploration but also humanity’s future beyond Earth.
Lunar research is fundamentally important for various reasons, ranging from scientific and technological advancements to potential economic and strategic benefits for humanity.
Firstly, the Moon serves as a historical archive of the solar system and early Earth. Studying its rocks and soil can provide critical insights into the formation and evolution of celestial bodies, including our own planet. Furthermore, it may hold information about the early history of the solar system, helping scientists understand the conditions that led to the emergence of life on Earth.
From a technological perspective, exploring the Moon fosters the development of new technologies and capabilities essential for more ambitious space missions. These include advanced propulsion systems, precise landing techniques, new materials for building structures in hostile environments, and life-support systems for extraterrestrial habitats.
Economically, the Moon may be a source of valuable resources. Certain regions on the Moon are estimated to contain water in the form of ice, which could be converted into breathable oxygen, drinking water, and rocket fuel. Additionally, rare minerals and precious metals may be present in extractable quantities, paving the way for space mining and the creation of a sustainable lunar economy.
Strategically, the ability to establish lunar bases and conduct long-term operations could enhance human presence in space and open up new opportunities for international cooperation and joint exploration of resources. This could also mitigate potential future risks for humanity, such as asteroid impacts, by developing capabilities to monitor and respond to cosmic threats.
Therefore, lunar research is not merely a quest for scientific knowledge; it is an opportunity to shape the future of space exploration, develop new technologies that benefit humanity on Earth and beyond, and establish a new paradigm of collaboration and exploration in deep space.