Mission Summary
Chang’e 5 was China’s first successful lunar sample-return mission and the first mission to return samples from the Moon since the Soviet Luna 24 mission in 1976. Launched on November 23, 2020, the spacecraft completed one of the most complex robotic lunar missions ever attempted, combining an orbiter, lander, ascender, and return capsule into a single mission.
After landing in the volcanic region of Oceanus Procellarum, Chang’e 5 collected approximately 1.73 kilograms of lunar rocks and soil using both a drill and a robotic scoop. The ascender then launched from the Moon, docked automatically with the orbiter in lunar orbit, and transferred the samples before the return capsule began its journey to Earth. The capsule landed safely in Inner Mongolia on December 16, 2020.
The mission demonstrated China’s mastery of robotic lunar exploration and provided scientists with the youngest lunar samples ever returned, offering new insights into the Moon’s volcanic history.
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