Workers work at a landing site in the return capsule of China’s Chang’e-5 probe in the Siziwang Flag, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Department of northern China, on December 17, 2020 . (Xinhua / Ren Junchuan)
BEIJING, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) – China’s Chang’e-5 probe return capsule went down to Earth in the early hours of Thursday, returning the first samples collected from the moon, as well as its newest moon in the world. samples in over 40 years.
The spacecraft landed in the Flag of Siziwang, an autonomous region inside China’s northern Mongolia, according to China’s National Space Administration.
The return capsule of Chang’e-5 test land in China in the Siziwang Flag, an autonomous region within China within China, on December 17, 2020. (Xinhua / Lian Zhen)
Workers work at a landing site in the return capsule of the Chang’e-5 probe in China in the Siziwang Flag, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Department of northern China, on December 17, 2020 . (Xinhua / Ren Junchuan)
Screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center in Beijing, Chinese capital, Dec. 17, 2020 showing workers locating Chang’e-5 probe return capsule in China in Siziwang Flag, Province Independent Interior of Mongolia northern China (Xinhua / Jin Liwang)
It marks the successful completion of the current three – phase lunar survey program of maneuvering and landing, and sample retrieval, which began in 2004.
Technical staff will work at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center in Beijing, the capital of China, December 17, 2020. (Xinhua / Jin Liwang)
Technical staff will monitor the entry of the Chang’e-5 probe return capsule in China at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center in Beijing, Chinese capital, December 17, 2020. (Xinhua / Yue Yuewei)
Chang’e-5 is one of the most complex and challenging missions in Chinese aerospace history. The probe, which included an orbiter, lander, ascender and return, was launched on November 24, and a lander-ascender combination was launched down the north side of the Mons Rumker in Oceanus Procellarum, also known as Ocean of Storms, on the side near the moon on 1 December.
The milestone mission has accomplished several firsts for China, including lunar sampling, the first construction from an outside body, the first rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit and the first ship -space carries samples to enter the Earth’s atmosphere at high speed.
This symbolic image captured at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center in Beijing, the capital of China, Dec. 17, 2020 shows the return capsule of China’s Chang’e-5 test drop in the Siziwang Flag, autonomous region of China within China (Xinhua / Jin Liwang.)
Technical staff shake hands to mark return of Chang’e-5 probe return capsule in China at Beijing Aerospace Control Center in Beijing, Chinese capital, Dec. 17, 2020. (Xinhua / Jin Liwang)
Members of staff will stand for a group photo at the landing site of the return capsule of the Chang’e-5 probe in China in the Flag of Siziwang, Independent Province of Inner Mongolia in China, December 17, 2020. (Xinhua / Lian Zhen) ■