The probe was launched from the moon around a quarter past four Dutch time this afternoon, the Chinese space agency CNSA reported.
The scout finished collecting rocks and other soil material on the moon ahead of schedule. In a few days, the landing will be on the steppe of Inner Mongolia.
Research on soil samples
From Chang’e-5, named after the moon goddess in Chinese myths, was launched last week. On Tuesday he landed on Mons Rümker, an ancient volcanic formation in the moon’s northern hemisphere. It was formed about 1 billion years ago and is therefore younger than many places on the moon that have been explored so far.
The Chang’e-5 has collected several kilos of soil material with a robotic arm and a drill. Those samples are stored in the hold.
Scientists want to examine the soil samples to get a better picture of the composition and history of the moon. It is not clear whether the material is only provided to Chinese researchers, or whether it is also shared with people from other countries.
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Moonstones
The last time moon rocks were brought to Earth was in 1976, when the Soviet Union’s Luna 24 mission retrieved about 170 grams of rocks. The twelve Americans who walked on the moon also brought all kinds of lunar rocks to Earth.
China has become increasingly active in space travel in recent decades. The country does that for the most part itself. In 2003, a Chinese ‘taikonaut’ went into space for the first time. In 2013, a Chinese cart landed on the moon for the first time.
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Space station on Mars
Earlier this year left an unmanned Chinese explorer to Mars, where it should arrive next year. In the coming years, China also wants to build its own space station.
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