Chang'e 5 to Return 'Home' with Lunar Samples

The ascender of China's Chang'e 5 lunar probe, carrying lunar samples, lifted itself to the lunar orbit at 11:10 pm on Dec 3 Beijing time. It was the first moon-based space launch by any Chinese space vehicle.

The Chang'e-5 robotic mission is the last mission of China's lunar exploration program. It completed the county's first automatic collection of lunar surface substances and will realize its first intersection and docking in a lunar orbit to transfer the samples to the returner.

China will then for the first time welcome small parts of the moon when the returner lands.

The lander-ascender combination of the Chang'e 5 lunar probe prepares the moon-based space launch. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

Consisting of an orbiter, a returner, a lander and an ascender, the Chang'e 5 lunar probe at 8.2 tons is the heaviest space vehicle China has ever launched.

The Long March 5 is the only carrier rocket in China currently capable of sending such a heavy facility into a stable Earth-moon transfer orbit.

The launch site itself also had high requirements.

With low latitude and high cost-efficiency as well as appropriate transport capability for a large-sized rocket, the Wenchang Space Launch Center in South China's Hainan province was ideal for the launch.

The Chang'e 5 lunar probe contains four parts: an ascender, a lander, a returner, and an orbiter. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

Space agencies in several countries have sent their congratulations and best wishes to China's Chang'e 5 mission.

Sergei Savelyev, deputy director general of Roscosmos, said that "For the space program of China, this event is undoubtedly historic."

The European Space Agency shared information of Chang'e 5 mission, saying that "it is supporting Chang'e 5 with its global Estrack network of tracking stations."

Thomas Zurbuchen, a senior officer at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, said that "This (Chang'e 5 mission) is no easy task," and expressed his desire that "everyone will benefit from being able to study this precious cargo that could advance the international science community."

The Chang'e 5 mission has also been a hot topic on global media platforms.

The AP and the BBC reported that the plan was for the lander to collect and bring back 2 kilograms of lunar rocks and debris to Earth. It will be the first time scientists have obtained samples of lunar rocks since the 1970s.

(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)