Lunar soil arrives in Hangzhou

The Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences unveiled its newly acquired samples of lunar soil from the Chang'e-5 mission on July 10.

The lunar soil arriving in Hangzhou was collected by Chang'e-5 in December 2020, marking China's first lunar soil acquisition with 1,731 grams of samples. Unlike previous US and Soviet samples from low latitudes, Chang'e-5's samples come from mid-latitude regions, providing new insights into the presence of water on the moon.

Following Chang'e-5's return, the China National Space Administration distributed the samples in seven batches to 131 research teams across the country, resulting in over 100 scientific papers and significant advancements in lunar and space research.

The Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study successfully applied for two lunar soil samples: 200 mg of powdered soil and a 13-mg thin slice. Despite their small size, the samples are invaluable and will be used for load research and verification tests over the next year.

Looking ahead, Chang'e-7 will search for water on the moon's far side, and an international lunar research station is planned for completion by 2035. The cutting-edge research projects are critical steps toward gaining a better understanding of the moon.