China Calls Worldwide Scientists to Study the Sample of Lunar Soil: Restricted Only US

China’s recent lunar mission, Chang’e 6, has achieved a historic milestone by bringing back lunar soil samples from the far side of the moon. 

In a televised news conference in Beijing, Chinese space officials extended an invitation to scientists worldwide to study these valuable samples. 

However, they made it clear that this offer excludes the United States, due to the restrictions imposed by the Wolf Amendment.

The Wolf Amendment, enacted in 2011, prohibits direct bilateral cooperation between the U.S. and China in space activities unless the FBI certifies there is no national security risk. 

Bian Zhigang, vice chair of the China National Space Administration, highlighted this obstacle, stating that for any meaningful cooperation to occur, the U.S. would need to remove this legislative barrier. 

Despite this, China remains open to collaborating with scientists from other countries, including the European Space Agency, France, Italy, and Pakistan, as demonstrated in the Chang’e 6 mission.

During the news conference, Liu Yunfeng, director of the international cooperation office of the China National Space Administration, welcomed global scientists to apply for access to the lunar samples. 

He emphasized the inclusive nature of this scientific opportunity, encouraging researchers worldwide to share in the benefits of this groundbreaking mission.

Although Chinese officials have yet to reveal the exact quantity of samples collected or any preliminary findings, there is anticipation that the returned samples will include volcanic rock and other materials potentially dating back 2.5 million years. 

These samples are expected to provide insights into the geological differences between the moon’s near side, which faces Earth, and the far side, which faces outer space. 

The far side, known for its mountains and impact craters, presents a challenging yet scientifically rich terrain.

The Chang’e 6 mission's success in collecting samples from the moon’s South Pole-Aitken Basin, a site formed over 4 billion years ago, opens up new avenues for understanding the moon’s geological history. 

Scientists are particularly interested in analyzing the various layers of the basin, which may reveal traces of significant geological events from the moon’s past, including periods of volcanic activity.

Looking ahead, Chinese space officials announced plans for future missions, including the Chang’e 7 probe to explore resources on the moon’s South Pole and the Tianwen-3 Mars sample return mission around 2030. 

There are also plans for a Tianwen-4 Jupiter exploration mission, underscoring China’s continued commitment to advancing space exploration.

While the restriction on U.S. participation due to the Wolf Amendment remains a point of contention, China’s invitation to the global scientific community reflects its broader goal of fostering international cooperation in space research. 

As the world awaits detailed findings from the Chang’e 6 mission, the opportunity to study these lunar samples promises to enhance our understanding of the moon and its complex history.