Science

China Chang’e-5 moon probe lands back on Earth, says state media

Updated : December 17, 2020 07:57 AM IST

China’s Chang’e-5 moon probe has landed in the northern Chinese region of Inner Mongolia, the official Xinhua news agency reported, completing its return to Earth and bringing back the first lunar samples since the 1970s.

The return capsule touched down in the Siziwang, or Dorbod, banner of Inner Mongolia, in the early hours of Thursday local time, Xinhua said, citing the China National Space Administration.

The Chang'e-5 mission, named after the ancient Chinese goddess of the moon, was to collect lunar material to help scientists understand more about the moon's origins and formation. The mission tested China's ability to remotely acquire samples from space, ahead of more complex missions.

This makes China only the third country to have retrieved lunar samples, joining the United States and the Soviet Union.

China Chang’e-5 moon probe lands back on Earth, says state media

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