China donated to the UN a lunar sample collected by the Chang’e-6 mission, permanently displayed at the organization’s headquarters in Vienna

China has officially donated to the United Nations a sample of lunar regolith collected by the Chang’e-6 mission, during a ceremony held on Monday at the UN headquarters in Vienna. It is the first time that a sample collected from the far side of the Moon has been presented to the international organization.

The sample was unveiled by representatives of the China National Space Administration, the UN and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs. It will be permanently displayed at the UN headquarters in Vienna, where it will be accessible to representatives of member states and visitors.

More than 400 guests attended the ceremony, including officials from international organizations and diplomatic representatives. CNSA Administrator Shan Zhongde said the donation reflects China’s intention to share the results of space exploration and support international cooperation.

The Chang’e-6 mission brought to Earth samples collected from the far side of the Moon, a region that is difficult to explore and inaccessible to direct observation from Earth. UN officials said the display of the sample highlights the role of science, diplomacy and international cooperation in the peaceful exploration of space.

UNOOSA Director Aarti Holla-Maini emphasized that sharing the sample and scientific data confirms the principle that outer space represents a common domain of all humanity.