Boss98.9 FM
Chinese state media outlets on Tuesday announced that the lunar probe has successfully taken off from the far side of the moon to begin its journey back to Earth carrying the first-ever samples collected from that region.
According to the Chinese media. The craft had landed on Sunday close to the moon’s south pole in a world-first feat celebrated by the international science community.
It added that the entire probe is due to return in about three weeks’ time to a landing site in Inner Mongolia where Scientists in China will be given the first chance to analyse the rocks, and later researchers around the world will be able to apply for the opportunity too.
China is the only country to have landed on the far side of the moon, having also done so before in 2019.
The Chinese National Space Administration has called the mission an unprecedented feat in human lunar exploration because that side of the moon – which always faces away from Earth – is technically challenging to reach due to its rugged terrain and deep craters.
China’s mission aims to be the first to bring back rock and soil samples from the region, which scientists say could be very different from rock formations on the moon’s near side.
The State media published videos from China’s space agency showing the unmanned robot craft sticking out a little arm and waving the Chinese flag after it collected the precious samples.
