[Source/Observer Network Ruan Jiaqi]
This April 24th, at the tenth "China Space Day" launch ceremony, the China National Space Administration announced the results of the international application for borrowing samples from the Chang'e-5 mission. Seven institutions from six countries were approved to borrow lunar samples from China.
In the solemn and grand ceremony, standing beside his Russian, Japanese, Pakistani, and European colleagues, Professor Mahesh Anand from the Open University of the UK accepted a small bottle containing lunar soil samples from Chinese personnel with great excitement.
The BBC reported on September 9th that Professor Anand was the only scientist in the UK granted permission to borrow these rare samples. He praised the lunar samples from China, saying they are far more precious than gold.
Recalling the scene at the ceremony, Professor Anand still feels deeply moved: "China's investment in its space program far surpasses ours. I feel like I've entered an alternate world."
It was reported that the lunar samples have been safely transported to the UK and are currently stored in a high-security safe at the Milton Keynes Open University laboratory. To ensure their safety, Professor Anand carried the sample container in his hand luggage and brought it back to the UK personally.
Professor Anand (right) receives lunar samples from Chinese personnel. Photo provided by BBC to Professor Anand.
The BBC's climate and science team had the privilege of entering the laboratory with Professor Anand to get a close look at the lunar samples.
According to British media reports, to prevent contamination of the samples, the research team built a tight defense line in the laboratory: all members of the BBC team must undergo strict dust removal procedures and wear multiple layers of protective gear before entering the core testing area to eliminate any risk of Earth material contaminating the lunar soil.
The team crouched in front of a safe, watching as Professor Anand carefully extracted a sealed bag containing three containers similar in size to necklace boxes. Each container held a transparent small bottle with a layer of dark gray powder at the bottom - that was the lunar soil.
Upon seeing the lunar samples up close, the BBC team marveled: "The lunar soil doesn't look particularly special, but knowing it comes from the distant universe is awe-inspiring."
Professor Anand introduced that the total amount of lunar soil required for their research does not exceed 60 milligrams.
He added: "We focus on microscopic-level research. Here, small means big (the small is mighty). Believe me, these samples will keep us busy for years to come."
In a laboratory at the end of the corridor, technician Kay Knight will be the first researcher to handle the samples after the small bottles are opened.
Kay Knight has 36 years of experience handling rocks, but she was still thrilled about handling materials directly from the surface of the moon: "I'm also very nervous; this is crucial work. The sample quantity is limited, and it's not easy to obtain more samples."
After her preliminary preparations, the samples will be sent to two other laboratories. In one of the laboratories, there is a complex network of pipes, valves, and wires forming a machine.
It was reported that this is a custom-made machine that technician Sasha Verchovsky has been researching since the early 1990s, capable of extracting carbon, nitrogen, and inert gases from the lunar soil by heating it to 1400°C.
Professor Anand believes that this unique device was one of the key reasons why his laboratory gained favor with the Chinese side and received valuable samples.
Sasha Verchovsky handmade most of the components of the custom-made machine named "Finesse." BBC
According to the BBC, Professor Anand's team has one year to complete their research. After grinding and laser processing the samples, they hope to answer questions about the formation of the moon and the early history of Earth. Professor Anand's team believes that these lunar soils may prove that the moon was formed 4.5 billion years ago from fragments ejected when Earth collided with a Mars-sized planet.
After visiting Professor Anand's laboratory, the BBC team couldn't help but marvel: "Since the Chang'e-5 mission, China has made even more remarkable progress in its space exploration endeavors."
In 2020, the successful completion of the Chang'e-5 mission made China the third country after the United States and the former Soviet Union to collect samples from the surface of the moon. Last June, the Chang'e-6 mission made China the first country to bring back samples from the far side of the moon.
At the "China Space Day" launch ceremony on April 24th, the head of the China National Space Administration, Sun Zhongde, stated that the Chinese lunar exploration project always adheres to the principles of equality, mutual benefit, peaceful use, and win-win cooperation, sharing development achievements with the international community. China will continue to open international applications for lunar scientific samples. We look forward to global scientists making more scientific discoveries and jointly expanding human cognition for the benefit of all humanity.
Professor Anand highly appreciates China's open attitude and its sharing of space development achievements with the international community. He expressed sincere hope that this loan would inaugurate a new chapter in long-term cooperation between China and the international scientific community.
Professor Anand added: "Many of our researchers' careers have been closely linked to the samples brought back by the Apollo moon landing missions. Continuing this excellent tradition of international cooperation is significant. I also hope other countries will follow suit."
This article is an exclusive piece by the Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without authorization.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7502332710107529739/
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