China donates Chang'e-6 lunar far side samples to UN

China has officially donated lunar soil samples collected by the Chang'e-6 mission to the United Nations. The handover ceremony took place on September 14 at the UN headquarters in Vienna, Austria.

This event marks the first time samples from the far side of the Moon have been presented to the organization. The samples, retrieved during the 2024 Chang'e-6 mission, will be placed on permanent display at the UN headquarters in Vienna.

The ceremony was co-organized by the China National Space Administration (CNSA), the Chinese Permanent Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Vienna, and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). More than 400 guests attended, including heads of international organizations and permanent representatives from various nations. Officials including CNSA Director Shan Zhongde and UNOOSA Director Aarti Holla-Maini participated in the presentation of the samples.