China’s Chang’e-6 lunar probe has made headlines with a remarkable “selfie” on the far side of the Moon, captured using advanced artificial intelligence. After completing sample collection on Monday, the rover autonomously maneuvered to snap photos, including one featuring the Chinese flag unfurled on the lunar surface. The rover, weighing 5 kilograms (11 pounds) and equipped with four wheels, navigated the Moon’s terrain to find the optimal angle for the picture, showcasing its autonomous capabilities.

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The Chang’e-6 mission represents a significant advancement in lunar exploration, particularly in tackling the challenges of the Moon’s far side. This mission follows the success of Chang’e-5, which collected samples from the Moon’s near side. Chang’e-6 has demonstrated improvements in navigation, guidance, and control systems, enhancing its autonomy and reliability during takeoff and ascent from the far side of the Moon.

In a separate development, China achieved another milestone with the successful launch of the TEE-01B, Naxing-3A, and Naxing-3B satellites aboard the Ceres-1 commercial carrier rocket. The launch took place at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China’s Inner Mongolia region, marking the 14th launch by the Ceres series rockets and the 28th space launch by China this year. These achievements underscore China’s commitment to advancing space exploration and technology.