Chinese Craft Returns To Earth With Moon Rocks
Umer Jamshaid Published December 17, 2020 | 09:00 AM
Beijing, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Dec, 2020 ) :An unmanned Chinese spacecraft carrying rocks and soil from the Moon returned safely to Earth early Thursday, completing the first mission in four decades to collect lunar samples.
While scientists hope the samples will give insights into the Moon's origins and volcanic activity on its surface, the trip was also another high-profile chapter in China's bid to become a space superpower.
In images broadcast on state television, a Chinese flag was flown at the snow-covered grasslands where the capsule landed in the country's remote north.
The probe's return "demonstrates the complete accomplishment of China's first mission to collect samples from an extraterrestrial body," China's National Space Administration (CNSA) said.
China is now only the third country to have retrieved samples from the Moon, following the United States and the Soviet Union in the 1960s and 1970s.
Chang'e-5, named after a mythical Chinese Moon goddess, landed on the Moon on December 1.
While there, it raised the Chinese flag, the country's space agency said.
When the probe left the Moon two days later, that marked the first time that China had achieved take-off from an extraterrestrial body, it said.
The module then went through the delicate operation of linking up in lunar orbit with the part of the spacecraft that brought the samples back to Earth.
The Chang'e-5 mission was to collect two kilograms (4.5 Pounds) of material in an area known as Oceanus Procellarum -- or "Ocean of Storms" -- a vast, previously unexplored lava plain, according to the science journal Nature.
The capsule will be airlifted to Beijing for opening, and the Moon samples will be delivered to a research team for analysis and study, China's space agency said.
- Space dream - China has spent billions of Dollars on its military-run space programme in an effort to catch up with the achievements of the United States and Russia.
China launched its first satellite in 1970, while human spaceflight took decades longer -- with Yang Liwei becoming the country's first "taikonaut" in 2003.
A Chinese lunar rover landed on the far side of the Moon in January 2019 in a global first that boosted Beijing's aspirations to become a space superpower.
The official Xinhua news agency described the latest mission as one of the most challenging and complicated in China's aerospace history.
The probe comprised separate craft to get to the Moon, land on it and collect the samples, get back up and then return the rocks and soil to Earth.
The return capsule entered the Earth's atmosphere at an altitude of about 120 kilometers (75 miles).
When it was about 10 kilometres above land, a parachute opened and it landed smoothly, after which a search team recovered it, the space agency said.
Thomas Zurbuchen, a top official at NASA's science mission directorate, congratulated China on the safe return of the capsule.
"The international science community celebrates your successful Chang'e 5 mission," he tweeted.
"These samples will help reveal secrets of our Earth-Moon system (and) gain new insights about the history of our solar system."China will make some of the samples available to scientists in other countries, Pei Zhaoyu, deputy director of the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of CNSA, had previously said.
China's future space goals include creating a powerful rocket capable of delivering payloads heavier than those NASA and private rocket firm SpaceX can handle, a lunar base, a permanently crewed space station, and a Mars rover.
Recent Stories
Martin wins crash-filled sprint at Spanish MotoGP
Liverpool Premier League title hopes suffer blow, Sheffield Utd relegated
Pro-Palestinian protester disrupts German envoy’s speech in Lahore’s rights ..
Motorcycling: Spanish Grand Prix MotoGP sprint result
Cotton to be sown on 4m acres this year
Irish training legend Mullins steeped in history
Shoaib Akhter motors round Gaddafi Stadium with ICC T20I trophy
20 Cambodian soldiers killed in ammunition base explosion: PM
Barrister Saif condoles over death of APP correspondent
China innovation driving global cooperation: international auto experts hail Chi ..
20 Cambodian soldiers killed in ammunition base explosion
MS LUH calls for swift completion of ongoing physical works
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
Sanam Marvi captivates audience with mesmerizing performance
5 hours ago -
Modern Education Techniques: A pathway to achieve economic development
1 day ago -
Kite Flying: From cultural festival to deadly sport
1 day ago -
PDMA predicts gusty wind, rain with thunder, hails
4 days ago -
Iranian president Raisi given guard of honour at PM House
5 days ago -
Intellectuals, writers accolades Naseer Mirza on his literary contribution
6 days ago
-
Bahawalpur Adabi Sangat hosts memorable mushaira
6 days ago -
Cattle farming vital to alleviate poverty in rural areas
6 days ago -
Pakistan: A land of tourism, archeological wonders
7 days ago -
Transforming education sector: from job hunters to job creators
8 days ago -
Amjad Bobby remembered on 19th death anniversary for timeless contributions to music
12 days ago -
Legendary actor Nadeem’s 26 films released on Eid-ul-Fitr days in 50 years
13 days ago