China Transfers Spacecraft Components to Hainan

While the U.S. is still intent on getting one of the private companies to put something back on the Moon, after the detected leak on Astrobotic Technology’s Peregrine Falcon lunar lander, which will prevent its successful landing on the Moon, China is now transporting the equipment for the next Chang’e-6 launch sometime early this year. Chang’e-6 will make China’s second landing on the far side of the Moon and conduct the first sample return from that region. It will also carry payloads from countries and institutes from France, Italy, and Pakistan, as well as the European Space Agency.