China’s Chang’e 6 Moon probe has a mysterious guest on board

China’s Chang’e 6 lunar probe mission is headed to the far side of the moon, and there appears to be a small rover attached to the side of the lander. She was seen in new photos Issued by the China Academy of Aerospace Technology (CAST).

The China National Space Administration announced today that the probe launched last week has reached space Successfully entered lunar orbitThis is a big step towards landing the spacecraft early next month.

But as Space.com website Reports, people have I noticed Images published by CAST show a mysterious small rover, which appears too small for a long-range mission. Shanghai Ceramic Institute Hints On its website there may be an infrared imaging spectrometer that can be used to detect water in soil and rocks, as well Explained before Space news.

China has revealed little about the goals of Chang’e 6. It is known where it will land, and there is a goal to return samples to Earth, similar to China’s collection of nearby samples on the Chang’e 5 mission in 2020. It is also carrying payloads from France, Sweden and Italy, In addition to Pakistani CubeSat.

This is not the first time China has sent a surprise device into space. During China’s Tianwen-1 mission to Mars in 2021, the CNSA’s shadow shot down a camera that captured a selfie of the Zhurong rover.