A scientist of Indian descent based in the UK has been granted access to a segment of the inaugural lunar soil samples obtained from the far side of the Moon, thanks to China’s Chang’e-6 mission. This groundbreaking milestone represents the first instance of any country retrieving materials from the Moon’s far side, an area that has remained largely uncharted due to communication difficulties. Professor Mahesh Anand stands out as the sole recipient of this exceptionally rare material in the UK, which he refers to as ‘more valuable than gold dust.’ He expresses that having access to China’s samples is a significant honor and privilege, as no other individual worldwide has had this opportunity. Following the grinding and laser treatment of the dust, Professor Anand’s team aims to address fundamental inquiries regarding the Moon’s formation and the early history of Earth. The dust grains may contain evidence supporting the hypothesis that the Moon was formed from debris ejected when Earth collided with a Mars-sized body approximately 4.5 billion years ago. The rocks were initially collected during China’s Chang’e 5 mission in 2020, which landed in a volcanic region known as Mons Rumker. A robotic arm extracted 2 kilograms of soil, which was subsequently returned to Earth in a capsule that landed in Inner Mongolia. The Chang’e-6 mission successfully delivered around 1.9 kilograms of lunar material in June 2024, with these samples now being shared with international researchers for further study. Notably, the lunar soil displays unique features compared to earlier samples, including a more porous structure and variations in mineral composition, such as increased plagioclase and decreased olivine content. This collaboration highlights China’s dedication to fostering international scientific cooperation in the realm of space exploration, while the participation of an Indian-origin scientist in the UK emphasizes the global aspect of lunar research and the collective endeavor to deepen our understanding of this celestial body.
