Chinese lunar mission peels back hidden layers of the moon

Groundbreaking research conducted by the Chang'e 4 rover mission revealed fascinating findings that shed light on the moon's geological history.

Shutterstock

China`s Chang'e 4 lunar probe lands on the moon's surface with the sun in the background.

Chinese lunar mission peels back hidden layers of the moon

Khaled Yousri

last update on 26 Sep 2023

The moon, our celestial neighbour, has fascinated scientists and space enthusiasts for centuries. Over the years, numerous missions have unveiled some of its secrets, but there's always more to discover.

In a recent interview with Jianqing Feng, a prominent lunar scientist and a planetary scientist at the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona, we delve into groundbreaking research conducted by the Chang'e 4 rover mission, shedding light on the moon's geological history and the enigmatic layered structures beneath its surface.

Jianqing Feng, the leading researcher on the study, collaborated with a team of dedicated scientists, including Matthew A. Siegler, Yan Su, Chunyu Ding, and Iraklis Giannakis. While the interview primarily focuses on Jianqing Feng's insights and expertise, it's essential to acknowledge the collaborative efforts that have led to these remarkable discoveries.

Uncovering the moon's mysteries

The interview's main focus was to gain insight into the study's main findings regarding the layered structures in the upper several hundred meters of the moon's surface along the Chang'E-4 rover's traverse.

According to Jianqing Feng, ground-penetrating radar technology provided a unique glimpse into the moon's subsurface. Within the first 40 meters, a mixture of dust, dirt, and broken rocks, known as "regolith," was identified, along with hidden craters.

NASA — The Daedalus crater on the far side of the moon as seen from the Apollo 11 spacecraft.

As the rover dug deeper, from 90 to 300 meters, it encountered five distinct layers akin to thick slices of a lunar pie. Some layers were surprisingly thin, measuring just 20 meters, while others exceeded 70 meters in thickness. Jianqing Feng emphasised that the deeper they went, the more substantial these layers became.

The implications of these findings are profound for our understanding of the moon's geological history. The layers within the upper 40 meters provide a historical record of lunar impacts originating from nearby large craters, some hundreds of kilometres away.

Implications for lunar geology

The implications of these findings are profound for our understanding of the moon's geological history. The layers within the upper 40 meters provide a historical record of lunar impacts originating from nearby large craters, some hundreds of kilometres away.

Meanwhile, the layers below 90 meters consist of basalt rocks, indicating ancient lava eruptions that occurred billions of years ago. These revelations open a window into the moon's dynamic past.

The interview also addressed the technological challenges faced during radar-based exploration on the moon's surface and how the Chang'E-4 mission managed them. While Jianqing Feng was not directly involved in the project's hardware, the challenges and solutions highlighted the complexity of lunar exploration.

The extensive depth of the layered structure raises questions about how this information might contribute to future manned lunar missions. Notably, it piques interest in safe landing sites and potential habitats.

The waxing gibbous moon rises behind trees on a hill in Jindayris, in the rebel-held part of Syria's northwestern province of Aleppo, on July 31, 2023 a day ahead of the "sturgeon supermoon".

The scientist noted that the discovery of a lava tube within these layers could serve as a natural shield and potential habitat for future lunar inhabitants.

The extensive depth of the layered structure raises questions about how this information might contribute to future manned lunar missions. Notably, it piques interest in safe landing sites and potential habitats.

Layers unveiling lunar history

The layers below 90 meters, composed of basalt rocks, play a crucial role in deciphering the moon's history. Their varying thickness offers insights into the scale of lunar volcanic eruptions, providing valuable data for understanding the moon's geological evolution.

The revelation of a hidden crater under the moon's surface might seem like a small detail, but it carries significant implications. This well-preserved evidence helps elucidate the origin of the lunar surface's "powdered" material, which results from numerous similar impacts.

The study also delves into the moon's South Pole-Aitken Basin structure — one of the largest known impact craters in the Solar System. Scientists suspect this basin may have penetrated the lunar crust, revealing material from the moon's mantle.

Understanding this exposed material and the subsurface structure of the basin holds the key to comprehending the moon's composition and inner workings.

Finally, the research suggests a fascinating trend: a decrease in the scale of lunar lava eruptions over time. This finding provides valuable insights into the moon's volcanic activity throughout its history and may help explain why volcanic activity has ceased in more recent times.

+ / -