Asteroid Impact Explains Lopsided Moon

New analyses of rock and soil from China’s Chang’e‑6, sampled in the far‑side South Pole‑Aitken basin, support the hypothesis that a giant impact reshaped the Moon’s interior and created the contrast between the thin, mare‑filled near side and thicker, cratered far side. The finding revises narratives about lunar thermal history and shows that targeted sample returns can resolve major planetary‑formation debates. — If confirmed, this rewrites a flagship origin story in planetary science, affects priorities for future lunar and sample‑return missions, and strengthens arguments for funding national space programs that can acquire high‑value ground truth.