What the soil on the far side of the Moon consists of: Chinese scientists made a discovery.

Photo of the soil on the far side of the Moon
Photo of the soil on the far side of the Moon

A group of Chinese scientists analyzed the composition of soil samples that were delivered from the far side of the Moon. According to a report by China Central Television, the soil composition consists of components such as basalt, breccia, cementite, light-colored rocks, and vitreous material. The main component is basalt, which makes up 30% to 40% of the total volume of the samples. The minerals present in the samples include pyroxene, plagioclase, and ilmenite, but the content of olivine is very low. The samples also have a high content of aluminum oxide and calcium oxide, while the iron oxide content is low.

Previously, soil samples from the far side of the Moon were delivered to Earth by the Chang'e spacecraft, which successfully landed at the Sicziwanzi landing site on June 25, 2020. The samples were collected from various areas of the South Pole-Aitken basin. About 2 kg of soil samples, which are likely about 4 billion years old, were delivered to Earth.

On June 2, 2020, China landed an unmanned spacecraft on the far side of the Moon, enhancing the country's status in space research. This event is part of a global race for the Moon, where numerous countries, including the United States, plan to use lunar resources to build bases and support astronaut missions over the next decade.


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