A Chinese spacecraft has successfully returned to Earth with samples from the far side of the Moon, completing a 53-day mission.
The Chang’e-6 lander touched down in Inner Mongolia on Tuesday at 2:07pm (6:07am GMT), and the China National Space Administration declared the mission a “complete success.”
The mission brought back soil and rocks from a less-known part of the Moon. These samples can help scientists understand more about the Moon’s history and formation.
Chang’e-6 launched from Hainan on May 3 and landed in the Moon’s South Pole-Aitken Basin. It collected samples using a drill and robotic arm, took photos, and planted a Chinese flag.
The mission also included Pakistan’s lunar satellite, iCube-Q. President Xi Jinping congratulated the team, saying their work would be remembered.
China’s state media covered the event extensively, showing the nation’s pride in its space achievements. However, some misinformation spread online, with false claims about the U.S. faking its Apollo Moon landings.
China’s space program has grown rapidly, with plans for a crewed Moon mission by 2030 and a future lunar base. The U.S. also plans to send astronauts back to the Moon with the Artemis 3 mission by 2026.