China’s Chang’e-5 lunar mission recently became the first probe in over four decades to attempt to bring back samples of lunar rock from unexplored portion of the Moon.
The spacecraft is set to return to Earth around December 15, 2020.
Key takeaways
Chang’e-5 probe is the Chinese National Space Administration’s (CNSA) lunar sample return mission.
Goal: To land in the Mons Rumker region of the moon, where it will operate for one lunar day, which is two weeks long and return a 2 kg sample of the lunar rock possibly by digging about 2 metres deep into the surface of the Moon.
The mission comprises a lunar orbiter, a lander and an ascent probe that will lift the lunar samples back into orbit and return them back to Earth.
The probe is named after the Chinese Moon goddess who is traditionally accompanied by a white or jade rabbit.
Do you know?
Early in 2019, China’s Chang’e-4 probe successfully transmitted images from the far side of the Moon, also referred to as the dark side.
This was the first probe to land in this portion of the Moon.
