36 C
Bangkok
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Chinese probe lands on Moon to gather lunar samples

A Long March 5 rocket carrying China’s Chang’e-5 lunar probe launches from the Wenchang Space Centre on China’s southern Hainan Island in November.

BEIJING: A Chinese probe has landed on the Moon in an ambitious attempt to bring back the first lunar samples in four decades.

Beijing has poured billions into its military-run space programme, with hopes of having a crewed space station by 2022 and of eventually sending humans to the Moon.

The Chang’e-5 spacecraft — named for the mythical Chinese moon goddess — touched down on the near side of the Moon on Tuesday, the China National Space Administration said.

Chang’e-5’s goal is to collect lunar rocks and soil to help scientists learn about the Moon’s origins, formation and volcanic activity.

If the return journey is successful, China will be only the third…

Read more…

Latest Articles