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The Chang e-5 lunar probe gathers samples on the Moon it has now returned safely to Earth.
China’s first craft returns to Earth with Moon rocks
Thu, 17 December 2020
An unmanned Chinese spacecraft carrying rocks and soil from the Moon returned safely to Earth early on December 17, completing another chapter in China’s effort to become a space superpower.
The mission was the first in four decades to collect lunar samples, emulating the feats of the US and the Soviet Union from the 1960s and 1970s – and going a few steps further.
Scientists hope the samples will give insights into the Moon’s origins and volcanic activity, though a more immediate focus was on how the mission showcased China’s technological advances.