Docking done, China’s Chang’e moon mission is ready to return to Earth

  • In a complex manoeuvre, the lunar probe linked up with the orbiter and transferred rock and soil
  • Samples expected to tell more of the story of how the moon was formed

The Chang’e 5 ascender comes into view from the orbiter-returner on Sunday. Photo: CNSA
China’s Chang’e 5 unmanned probe completed a tricky docking manoeuvre with a spacecraft orbiting the moon on Sunday, moving one step closer in its mission to bring back lunar samples for the first time in more than 40 years.

The probe, named after the mythical Chinese moon goddess, lifted off the lunar surface on Thursday and linked up with orbiting spacecraft at 6.12am, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA) in Beijing.

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