WATCH: China’s Chang’e-6 Probe Carrying Samples From Far Side Of Moon Returns To Earth

Beijing: In a historic achievement, China’s Chang’e-6 lunar probe has successfully landed in Inner Mongolia, marking the first-ever retrieval of samples from the moon’s far side. The reentry capsule touched down at 2:07 p.m. Beijing time (0607 GMT) on Tuesday, as confirmed by state broadcaster CCTV. This milestone follows the probe’s successful collection of lunar soil from the South Pole-Aitken Basin, an impact crater on the moon’s far side.

Zhang Kejian, head of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), announced the mission’s successful completion shortly after the landing. Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed the mission as a “landmark achievement” in China’s ambitious space exploration efforts.

A recap of 53-day Chang’e-6 lunar mission. Launch, lunar landing, sampling, ascending, and returning back to earth! Full HD:https://t.co/X8PllBJAzY pic.twitter.com/L8Vyt4vgFN

— CNSA Watcher (@CNSAWatcher) June 25, 2024

The Chang’e-6 probe, launched on May 3 via a Long March 5 rocket from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in Hainan, collected the samples earlier this month. The collected lunar soil will be flown to Beijing for detailed analysis. Although it is yet to be confirmed whether the targeted 2kg of samples were retrieved, the material will be studied by both Chinese and international scientists. Researchers anticipate these samples will provide new insights into the formation of the Earth, moon, and solar system.

Previous missions, such as Chang’e-5, which brought back samples from the moon’s near side, have already led to significant discoveries, including new minerals and more precise estimates of the moon’s geological age. The success of Chang’e-6 is expected to bolster China’s standing in the global space race, particularly in its competition with the United States.

Neil Melville-Kenney, a technical officer at the European Space Agency (ESA) working with Chinese researchers, expressed hope for increased cooperation despite geopolitical tensions.