UK Scientists Will Explore Moon Samples From China Lunar Exploration Program

The China Chang’e-5 lunar exploration mission returned Moon samples to Earth back in 2020, and now some of those samples are in the possession of UK scientists. China is sending these samples with some scientists to research the samples.

A UK Scientist Is Conducting Research On The Moon Samples

Prof Mahesh Anand, an academic from the Open University’s Milton Keynes laboratories, will receive Moon samples from the China Lunar Exploration Mission. This is a remarkable advancement for global research on the Moon ahead of future exploration missions by various space agencies.

In December 2023, Prof Mahesh Anand and other scientists around the world applied to receive Moon samples from China for testing. Now, Prof Anand, along with six other scientists, will receive the Moon samples from China for research purposes.

This is ideal considering the fact that Prof Anand has been conducting lunar research for over 20 years, making him an ideal pick for this research exercise. His research on these Moon samples and that of the other six selected scientists will help expand our understanding of the Moon’s surface.

The original understanding of the makeup of the Moon’s surface is partly fuelled by the 1976 sample return mission by a Soviet probe. However, questions touching on the origin of the Moon as well as its chemical composition still plague the space industry.

This research, to be conducted by Prof Anand and his team at the Milton Keynes laboratories, hopes to answer some questions about the Moon. The research aims to determine the isotopic composition of chemical matter on the Moon, like carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and noble gases, and their individual amount.

All findings from the research will help to shed more light on the origin of the Moon. It also hopes to explain the history of carbon and nitrogen volatiles that exist in the Earth-Moon region.

New Research On Moon Samples From The China Lunar Exploration Mission Is The First Of Its Kind

This will be the first time that China will be sending out Moon samples to international agencies for research purposes. According to Prof Anang, receiving this Moon sample from China is “a great honour and privilege for my team.”

He adds, “This is a recognition of our world-leading lunar sample research, underpinned by long-term funding from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC/UKRI) and the OU’s commitment towards maintaining world-class analytical laboratories.” With this new research exercise, China is looking forward to collaborating with other countries as they expand their knowledge of the Moon.

A spokesperson from the Chinese National Space Agency (CNSA) referred to this historic move as a “win-win cooperation.” In an official statement, the agency said, “The international sharing of lunar samples and joint research efforts enable scientists from around the world to study the Moon’s formation and evolution, fostering collaborative exploration of the universe’s mysteries.”

Still on this cooperation, Dr James Carpenter, the head of the lunar science office at the European Space Agency shared a few words. He said, “The Chang’e-5 lunar samples provide a unique window into the history of the Solar System, and the Open University is one of the best places in the world to unravel the scientific story that these samples have to tell.”