Produced by: Tarun Mishra
China's Chang'e-6 lunar probe has successfully launched from the far side of the moon, beginning its journey back to Earth with lunar samples.
This mission marks a significant milestone for China, moving closer to becoming the first nation to retrieve samples from the moon's far side.
The probe lifted off at 7:38 am local time (2338 GMT) on Tuesday, after completing its sample collection mission from June 2-3.
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) confirmed that the Chang'e-6 probe endured the high temperatures on the far side of the moon, showcasing its durability in extreme conditions.
Unlike its predecessor Chang'e-5, Chang'e-6 had to operate without direct communication with Earth. It relied on the Queqiao-2 relay satellite, launched in April, to maintain contact.
Equipped with a drill and robotic arm, the probe gathered soil samples from both the surface and subsurface of the moon. It also unfurled China’s national flag on the far side of the moon for the first time.
Currently in lunar orbit, Chang'e-6 will rendezvous with another spacecraft to transfer the collected samples to a return module.
The return module is scheduled to land in China's Inner Mongolia region around June 25, bringing back the precious lunar samples.
Scientists worldwide eagerly await the return of these samples, which are expected to provide valuable insights into the origins of our solar system.