China says it has successfully launched its Chang'e-5 probe to the moon on Tuesday to bring back rocks, the first such attempt, all nations combined, since 1976. The Y5 Long March-5 rocket took off from the center space station in Wenchang, in the province of Hainan, at 4:30 am (9:30 pm, Monday, in Paris).
Chinese space agency CNSA said in a statement that the rocket flew for nearly 37 minutes before sending the spacecraft on its intended path.
State broadcaster CCTV, which covered the launch live, showed footage of CNSA personnel in blue uniforms clapping as they watched the spacecraft move away.
Separation of # Change5 from launcher # LongMarch5
The launcher's mission is a success 🍾 pic.twitter.com/EKPu0eQES1
- Dreams of Space (@RevesdEspace) November 23, 2020
The Chang'e-5 mission, named after the ancient Chinese goddess of the moon, is to collect 2 kg of lunar samples to help scientists better understand the origins and formation of the moon.
Two Chinese vehicles are expected to land on the Earth satellite in about eight days, according to Pei Zhaoyu, a spokesperson for the mission.
The probe is expected to remain on the lunar surface for two days, for a total mission duration of 23 days.
Up to two meters deep
The lander must drill into the lunar surface, with a robotic arm digging into soil and rocks up to two meters deep.
This material would then be transferred to the ascent module, which should transmit it to an orbiter.
The samples would then be transferred to a return capsule, with a planned landing in the Inner Mongolia region of China.
Not easy ...
If the mission goes as planned, China would become the third country to achieve the feat of bringing back moon rocks, after the United States and the Soviet Union.
However, samples will be taken from a geological area much younger than those of previous missions.
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China made the first landing in history on the far side of the moon last year.
In July, it sent a probe to Mars and wants to put a permanent manned space station into service around 2022. Also, in its sights: the sending of Chinese astronauts to the Moon by 2030.