Chang'e-6 discovers negative ions on Moon's far side

In a groundbreaking collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and China, the Chang'e-6 mission has achieved remarkable results even before its lunar samples return to Earth. An ESA probe, integrated with the Chinese spacecraft, has detected negative ions on the Moon's far side, marking a historic first.

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The Negative Ions at the Lunar Surface (NILS) instrument, managed by European scientists, confirmed the presence of a new plasma component on the lunar surface. This discovery, unveiled by Neil Melville, ESA’s technical officer for the experiment, signifies a major advancement in space physics and heralds a new era for lunar exploration.

“This was ESA’s first activity on the surface of the Moon, a world-first scientifically, and a first lunar cooperation with China. We have collected an amount and quality of data far beyond our expectations,” Melville stated, as per an India Today report. 

The Moon’s lack of a magnetic field and thin exosphere leads to unique interactions with the solar wind—a continuous flow of radiation and particles from the Sun. On the Moon's far side, where Chang'e-6 landed, these interactions produce secondary particles. While positive particles have been detected from orbit, negative ions had remained elusive due to their short-lived nature. The NILS instrument, positioned close to the lunar surface, overcame this challenge and successfully identified the negative ions.

This achievement not only enriches our understanding of lunar surface dynamics but also underscores the potential of international cooperation in space exploration, paving the way for future human and robotic missions to the Moon.