Chinese moon rock collecting spacecraft lands on the moon successfully

The Chinese Chang’e 5 spacecraft has landed on the moon, Chinese state media report. The lander will collect moon rocks there for the next two days and they must also be returned to Earth.

The landing took place on Tuesday, the Chinese state news agency Xinhua reports. The lander successfully landed on the moon, while the rest of the probe continues to fly 200 kilometers above the lunar surface. The lander has also sent several photos back to Earth, according to the Chinese space agency CNSA. According to the CNSA, the lander himself has detected and managed to avoid various obstacles. The lander has performed initial diagnostic checks and has begun the most important part of the mission.

Chang’e 5 will collect multiple soil samples from the moon over the next two days. To do this, stones are picked from the bottom and the ground is drilled through. For example, China hopes to collect a more diverse set of samples. In total, Chang’e 5 must collect two kilograms of stones. After the mission, the lander reconnects to the probe and then returns to Earth. In addition to the soil samples, Chang’e 5 also has a number of scientific instruments on board, including an infrared spectrometer.

If all goes well, the lander should return to Earth in two weeks. The exact landing date is not yet known. The capsule will then land in the Inner Mongolia region of China. If the mission is successful, it will be the first time in 40 years that new soil samples have been brought from the moon to Earth. The mission began last week with the launch of a Long March rocket.