Chang’e-5 Moon Rocks: China and France Team Up for Space Discovery

🌙 Have you ever wondered what secrets the Moon holds? Scientists from China and France are working together to find out! 🧐

China’s Chang’e-5 mission brought back special rocks and soil from the Moon. These are the first lunar samples collected in over 40 years! 🌖

Professor Frederic Moynier from the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (IPGP) in France was super excited to receive some of these precious samples. He even traveled all the way to China to bring them back to his lab in Paris! ✈️

“These Moon rocks are so rare and special,” said Professor Moynier. “They come from a place on the Moon we’ve never studied before. And guess what? They’re almost a billion years younger than the rocks collected by the Apollo missions!” 🚀

Using special tests called isotope analysis, the scientists are looking at tiny traces of elements in the lunar soil. This helps them understand how the Moon was formed and how it has changed over time. 🧪

They discovered that volcanic activity on the Moon lasted longer than we thought. That means the Moon was active for more time, with lava flowing on its surface! 🌋

Long Zhengyu, a Chinese PhD student at IPGP, said, “It’s amazing to work together. France has cool labs and China has these awesome Moon samples. Together, we’re learning so much!” 🤝

This project shows how countries can team up to explore space and share knowledge. Who knows what amazing discoveries they’ll make next? 🌌

Maybe one day, you could be a scientist exploring the Moon or even Mars! Dream big! 🚀

Reference(s):

Chang'e-5 lunar samples support joint China–France moon research

cgtn.com