A team of Chinese researchers has identified fragments of a CI-type meteorite, an extremely rare category of carbonaceous chondrites, in samples from the dark side of the Moon brought back by the Chang’e-6 mission.
This discovery, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), could offer new clues about the origin of water on the lunar surface. It could also shed light on the processes of matter transport in the early stages of the solar system.
Unprecedented samples from the dark side of the Moon
The Chang’e-6 mission, launched in May 2024, was the first to collect material from the far side of the Moon, a region little explored by previous missions. In total, two grams of lunar regolith were recovered and analyzed by the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Scientists detected impact residues linked to CI-type meteorites, which contain water, organic matter, and compounds essential for life.
These meteorites originate from asteroids in the outer regions of the solar system, and their presence on Earth is minimal due to degradation caused by the atmosphere and geological activity.
Impact and crystallization: a story preserved on the Moon
According to the team led by academic Xu Yigang, the particles formed when a progenitor body impacted the lunar surface, melting part of the material which then cooled and crystallized rapidly.
This process was recorded in the regolith, allowing researchers to reconstruct ancient events that would have disappeared on Earth.
Additionally, a systematic method was developed to identify meteoritic material in extraterrestrial samples, opening new possibilities for the study of planetary evolution from fragments preserved on bodies without an atmosphere like the Moon.
Lunar water: origin, location, and strategic potential
The finding reinforces the hypothesis that part of the lunar water comes from impacts of meteorites rich in volatile compounds, such as CI types. This water is mainly found in the form of ice in permanently shadowed polar regions, and its future exploitation could be key to the sustainable colonization of the satellite.
Main uses:
- Human consumption and life support
- Oxygen production through electrolysis
- Fuel manufacturing (LOX/LH2)
- Refueling station for interplanetary missions
Projections: Chang’e 7, Chang’e 8, and international cooperation
China is preparing new missions like Chang’e 7 (2026), aimed at the lunar south pole, and Chang’e 8 (2029), which will involve eleven countries and lay the groundwork for future human missions.
These advances consolidate China as one of the leaders in space exploration, alongside achievements such as the Chang’e-4 landing and the Tianwen-1 mission to Mars.
The study of lunar regolith not only allows the reconstruction of the solar system’s history but also opens pathways to a sustainable human presence on the Moon, with implications for astrobiology, planetary geology, and space engineering. The Moon is increasingly emerging as a strategic platform for cosmic exploration.
