China’s lunar mission, carrying world's 1st cargo from Moon’s far side, returns home

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - China’s lunar mission carrying the world's first cargo from the far side of the Moon returned to Earth on Tuesday, an official statement said.

Chang’e-6 lunar mission touched Earth in Siziwang Banner in China’s Inner Mongolia at around 2.07 p.m. (0607GMT), China National Space Administration said.

It completed a 53-day lunar mission, carrying home the first rock samples collected from the Moon’s far side.

Chang’e-6 probe was launched into space last month from the Chinese city of Hainan.

It collected samples from the far side of the Moon, making the mission the first of its kind in human history.

It will be airlifted to the Chinese capital Beijing for further examination and analysis of the cargo.

The Chang'e-6 spacecraft, like its predecessor Chang'e-5, comprises an orbiter, a lander, an ascender, and a returner.

Chang'e-5 returned to Earth in December 2020 with the first lunar soil samples in over four decades.