China’s Moon Mission

Article written and website edited by Misaki Tomiyama

On 1st December 2020, China successfully landed a probe "Chang'e-5" on the moon. It's aim was to bring back rocks samples from the moon to the earth. The last time rock samples were brought from the moon was over 40 years ago, by the Soviets and Americans. The probe landed near Mount Lümker- a volcano near the region of Oceanus Procellarum. The probe spent a few days on the moon to collect samples.

Image by CNSA, the probe's shadow the moon

The probe has a camera, spectrometer, scoops and drills, etc for its mission. It's mission is to bring back around 2kg of rock samples of the moon to the earth. The launch of the probe was broadcasted on the National TV of China, but the landing wasn't. It wasn't until the confirmation of the landing of the probe, when the announcement was made public, that the landing was successful.

Launching of the probe-Image by BBC

It has been reported that the probe successfully collected rock samples of the moon, and on the 3rd of December, it took off, heading back to earth. Before doing so, it raised the flag of China, making it the second country, after the United States, to put a flag on the surface of the moon.

Dr Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA's top science official, congratulated China for its accomplishment. He tweeted "When the samples collected on the Moon are returned to Earth, we hope everyone will benefit from being able to study this precious cargo that could advance the international science community,"

Image by twitter.com