China’s Chang’e-6 Mission Uncovers Cooler Lunar Mantle on Moon’s Far Side

NewsOrbital Desk | Beijing | October 6

China’s National Space Administration and Nuclear Energy Authority announced on October 6 a major scientific breakthrough from the study of moon samples brought back by the Chang’e-6 mission. For the first time, research revealed that the lunar mantle beneath the moon’s far side is significantly cooler than that under the near side.

This discovery offers critical new insights into the moon’s internal structure and its geological development over time. Analysis of basalt rock samples collected by Chang’e-6 showed a crystallization temperature near 1100 degrees Celsius—approximately 100 degrees lower than similar samples from the moon’s near side.

Additionally, the study found that the mantle’s potential temperature on the far side is notably less than that beneath the near side, marking an important distinction in the moon’s geophysical properties.

This research has been published on the official website of the internationally acclaimed scientific journal Nature Geoscience, providing a fresh perspective on the moon’s physical and geological characteristics.