Pakistan Among 6 Countries Approved to Study Chang’e-5 Lunar Samples
APP
Beijing: The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has announced that scientists from institutions in Pakistan, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (U.S.) have been granted the opportunity to borrow lunar samples collected by the Chang’e-5 mission for scientific research.
At a ceremony marking China’s Space Day in Shanghai, CNSA revealed that seven institutions from six countries had been authorized to borrow the lunar samples. The approved institutions include the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (IPGP) in France, the University of Cologne in Germany, Osaka University in Japan, the Open University in the UK, Brown University in the U.S., and the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
In 2020, China’s Chang’e-5 mission successfully retrieved samples from the moon weighing approximately 1,731 grams.
Shan Zhongde, head of CNSA, emphasized that China’s lunar exploration program adheres to the principles of equality, mutual benefits, peaceful utilization, and win-win cooperation, with the aim of sharing its achievements with the international community.
He further noted that CNSA will continue to accept international applications for lunar sample research, expressing hope that scientists around the world will make new discoveries that will expand human knowledge and benefit humanity.
In November 2023, CNSA opened applications for international researchers to borrow Chang’e-5 lunar samples. By the end of December 2023, the agency had received 24 applications from 11 countries and international organizations.
