China prepares to launch Chang’e-6 lunar probe

The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has announced that Chang’e-6 is scheduled to be launched in early May, in time to explore the moon.

The Chang’e-6 lunar probe and Long March-5 Y8 launch vehicle combination were transferred from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China’s Henan Province to the launch area on Saturday, CNSA said.

The assembly was lifted out of the vertical test building on a removable launch pad and safely moved back to the launch area. Pre-launch functional checks, combined test work and launch qualification will be carried out.

After the Chang’e-6 lunar probe and the Long March-Y8 carrier rocket reached the launch site in January and March respectively, assembly, testing and other preparations were completed.

A probe is planned to collect samples from the far side of the moon. It will be the first mission of its kind in human history.