♦ The China National Space Administration announced its spacecraft Chang’e-6 landed in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on 2 June 2024. Chang’e-6 will attempt to be the first to collect samples from the moon’s far side and transport them back to Earth. The mission is China’s second to the far side, following a landing by the Chang’e-4 spacecraft in 2019. 

♦ Chang’e-6 is part of China’s broader lunar program. The country will follow up with two missions to the south pole of the moon. These are Chang’e-7 in 2026 and Chang’e-8 around 2028. The country aims to launch its first crewed lunar mission by 2030.