China: Rocket sent to far side of Moon, expected to return with lunar sample

The 53-day mission intends to return around two kilograms of lunar samples to Earth for study.

China has launched a probe to collect samples from the far side of the Moon, which is being claimed as a world first.

At around 17:27 local time (10:27 BST), an unmanned rocket carrying the Chang'e-6 probe launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre.

The 53-day mission intends to return around two kilograms of lunar samples to Earth for study. It will attempt to relaunch from the side of the moon pointing away from Earth.

This is referred to as the Moon's dark side because it is not visible from Earth, not because it does not reflect sunlight. It has a thicker, older crust with more craters and is less covered in ancient lava flows than the adjacent side.

Scientists anticipate that this would make it easier to collect samples that will provide information on how the Moon developed.

Ge Ping, vice director of China's Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Centre, told reporters before the launch: "Chang'e-6 will collect samples from the far side of the Moon for the first time."

Video credit: The Guardian

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