China’s upcoming Chang’e 6 mission to the moon, scheduled for the first half of 2024, will carry a Pakistani satellite among its payloads. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced the mission on social media platform Weibo, detailing its international cooperation efforts. Besides the Pakistani CubeSat, the mission will carry payloads from the European Space Agency (ESA), France, and Italy.
Chang’e 6 aims to collect samples from the moon’s dark side, marking the first time samples from this region will be brought back to Earth, providing insights into the moon’s age and composition. China plans to accelerate its International Lunar Research Station project, fostering more international partnerships for lunar exploration.