The China National Space Administration, along with the Chinese delegation to the United Nations in Vienna and the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs, held a handover ceremony at the UN headquarters in Vienna. During the event, China officially presented the first lunar soil samples collected from the far side of the moon by the Chang'e-6 mission to the United Nations.
The lunar samples are designated for permanent exhibition at the United Nations headquarters in Vienna. The unveiling ceremony was attended by more than 400 guests, including representatives from international organizations and various countries. The event featured officials such as CNSA Director Shan Zhongde and UN officials Ghada Waly and Aarti Holla-Maini.
The Chang'e-6 mission, which successfully completed the first-ever sample return from the lunar far side in 2024, provided the material for this donation. These samples represent a significant scientific contribution, following recent research findings that utilized the 1,935 grams of soil returned during the mission to analyze the geological history of the moon.
