On September 14, a ceremony took place in Vienna, Austria, to present the first lunar soil samples collected from the far side of the moon by China's Chang'e-6 mission to the United Nations (UN). The event was attended by over 400 guests, including heads of various international organizations, country representatives, and others.
Read More
Aarti Holla-Maini, director of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), praised China's contribution, noting that the Chang'e-6 mission represents a significant achievement in lunar exploration. The process of collecting samples from the moon and donating them to the UN exemplifies both scientific exploration and international collaboration. Holla-Maini emphasized that the donation symbolizes the idea that "outer space truly belongs to all mankind." The lunar soil serves as both an educational tool and a specimen for thousands of visitors to the UN each year.
Richard Trappl, an Austrian sinologist and former director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Vienna, remarked on the symbolic import of the samples, saying that despite the moon's distance of about 380,000 kilometers from Earth, it has made its way to Vienna and the UN.
Monica Juma, the director-general of the UN Office at Vienna, highlighted the significance of permanently exhibiting the lunar soil samples at UN headquarters, stating that they reflect humanity's scientific creativity and determination to explore the universe. Juma also noted that this initiative showcases China's commitment to promoting international cooperation in addressing common challenges.
Harvey Dzodin, a senior fellow at the Center for China and Globalization in Beijing, pointed out that the uniqueness of these samples lies in their origin from the far side of the moon, marking a first for many viewers. He described the samples as an "envoy" for China, showcasing its scientific and technological strength.
The permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN expressed pride in being a close collaborator with China in aerospace endeavors, noting that Pakistan's ICUBE-Q satellite accompanied the Chang'e-6 mission, marking the country’s initial venture into lunar exploration. He acknowledged China's advancements in lunar science as beneficial for all and expressed hope for deeper collaboration on deep space exploration and manned missions.
Additionally, the Italian permanent representative to the UN remarked on lunar exploration as a shared human endeavor, referencing the collaboration between China and Italy in areas like astronaut training and lunar missions, inspired by a famous Chinese literary work.