Houston, Texas – NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter recently captured images of China’s Chang’e 6 spacecraft on the Moon’s far side, providing valuable insights into its location and surrounding geological features. The spacecraft Chang’e 6 landed in the Apollo basin, known for its ancient basaltic flows and unique terrain.

On June 7, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter photographed the Chang’e 6 lander, which had touched down on the Moon on June 1. The images revealed the lander’s position on the rim of a crater within the Apollo basin, with coordinates calculated at approximately 42 degrees south latitude, 206 degrees east longitude, and an elevation of about minus 3.27 miles.

The Chang’e 6 landing site lies towards the southern edge of the Apollo basin, where basaltic lava erupted over 3 billion years ago, creating distinctive ridges and geological formations. The region showcases the intersection of different basaltic flows, with younger ones exhibiting higher concentrations of iron oxide and titanium dioxide.

NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, launched in 2009, plays a crucial role in mapping the Moon’s surface and gathering valuable data for future missions. Equipped with advanced instruments like high-resolution cameras and a laser altimeter, the LRO aids in identifying potential landing sites, assessing mineral resources, and studying the Moon’s radiation environment.

Moreover, the LRO has contributed significantly to our understanding of the Moon by confirming the presence of water ice in shadowed craters and mapping surface temperatures. Its instruments provide essential data on lunar topography and thermal behavior, essential for planning upcoming human and robotic missions.

By continuously transmitting data back to Earth, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter remains a cornerstone in lunar exploration technology, paving the way for future endeavors on the Moon and beyond.