Chinese Unmanned Probe Chang'e 5 Returns to Earth

Soviet Union, Third After US to Collect Lunar Surface Samples
China Self-Assesses Success of 3-Phase Moon Exploration Plan

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] China's unmanned lunar probe Chang'e 5 returned to Earth in the early morning of the 17th (local time) carrying samples from the lunar surface.

China's state-run Xinhua News Agency reported, citing the China National Space Administration, that the Chang'e 5 return capsule landed at 1:59 a.m. Beijing time in Shizhuo Wang, a grassland area in the northern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. China became the third country, after the Soviet Union and the United States, to collect samples from the lunar surface.

Chinese return capsule that returned to Earth after collecting samples from the lunar surface (Photo by Xinhua Net)

Chang'e 5 was launched from Earth on the 24th of last month aboard the Long March 5 carrier rocket, and on the 1st of this month, a part separated from the main body landed in the area known as the "Sea of Storms" on the Moon.

It also drilled a hole 2 meters deep on the lunar surface to collect 2 kg of soil and rock samples.

After collecting lunar samples, the Chang'e 5 ascent vehicle took off on the 3rd and successfully docked with the orbiter-flyer in lunar orbit on the 6th.

Xinhua News Agency evaluated this as "a successful conclusion to the three-phase lunar exploration plan that began in 2004, including orbiting, landing, and sample collection."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.