China’s Chang’e 6 probe successfully returned to Earth with rock and soil samples from the far side of the moon, marking a global first, Associated Press reports.
The probe, which left Earth on May 3, took 53 days to complete its journey, landing on the South Pole-Aitken Basin, a 4-billion-year-old impact crater, where it drilled into the core and collected surface rocks. Scientists hope the samples, including 2.5 million-year-old volcanic rock, will shed light on geological activities responsible for the differences between the moon’s near and far sides. China has indicated it will share the samples with international scientists, although specific countries were not mentioned.
This achievement marks a significant milestone in China’s space exploration efforts and is part of China’s broader space ambitions, which include launching multiple successful lunar missions and establishing a space station, positioning itself as a key player in the global space race.
