Moon dust in Paris: A new era of space cooperation between China and France

In a landmark moment for European space science, France has become the first European nation to receive a sample from the Moon brought back by China’s Chang’e-5 mission. The historic handover signals a new phase of international collaboration in lunar exploration, and a promising step toward a shared scientific future.

Now secured within the vaults of the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, the sample may be no larger than a grain of sand, but its scientific value is vast. It is part of the 1.7 kilograms of lunar material retrieved during the Chang’e-5 mission in 2020—China’s first successful lunar sample return, and the first by any nation since the 1970s.

The tiny fragment is believed to be around two billion years old, considerably younger than most previously collected Moon samples, such as those from the Apollo missions. According to Professor Frédéric Moynier, a planetary scientist at the Paris Institute of Earth Physics, these younger rocks can help fill a critical gap in our understanding of the Moon's surface.

"Most lunar samples we’ve studied until now are ancient," Moynier explained. "By analysing these younger samples, we can improve the chronology of the Moon’s surface by better calibrating the age of craters and geological activity."

Work inside the laboratory is already underway. Over the coming weeks, Professor Moynier and his team will begin extensive testing to explore some of the Moon’s deepest scientific mysteries, beginning with the question of water.

For decades, scientists have puzzled over why the Moon, Earth's closest celestial neighbor, is nearly devoid of water, while our planet teems with it. "My research focuses on understanding why the Moon, which is so close to Earth, is bone-dry," said Moynier. "We'll be analyzing this new sample for hydrogen, water, and other volatile elements to gain deeper insights into how the Moon was formed."

This new analysis could offer clues not only about lunar history but also about broader planetary formation and evolution in our Solar System.

Beyond its scientific significance, the transfer of lunar material to France also marks a symbolic and strategic moment in international relations. The exchange reflects deepening cooperation between China and Europe in space exploration, moving the world one step closer to a more collaborative future in outer space.

This rare handover isn't just about science. It’s a signal that China is stepping up not just as a space power, but as a scientific partner on the global stage.

While this is the first time France has received a Moon sample from China, researchers hope it won’t be the last.

As humanity enters a new era of lunar exploration, this collaboration between China and France may become a model—where shared discovery, not rivalry, defines the space race of the future.