China's state media said today that China's lunar probe Chang'e-5 is on its way back to Earth after completing Moon sampling. Watch: Chang'e-5 was due to collect two kilograms of material from an area known in the Moon known as "Ocean of Storms".

China's state media said today that China's lunar probe Chang'e-5 is on its way back to Earth after completing Moon sampling. Watch: Chang'e-5 was due to collect two kilograms of material from an area known in the Moon known as "Ocean of Storms". It is China's first attempt to collect Moon sampling and the first since the former Soviet Union's Luna 24 mission in 1976. The Moon samples were collected by a robotic vehicle with the sample collection taking upto 19 hours, China's space agency informed. Chinese space scientists have put the return capsule onboard the orbiting module for delivery back to Earth. It is China's first lunar landing since 2013. In January 2019, the Chang'e-4 probe had landed on the far side of the Moon. Chang'e-5 probe had landed on the Moon last Tuesday and had begun drilling on the surface of the Moon hours after landing. The mission is meant to help scientists learn more about the Moon's origins. Chinese foreign ministry said the mission was "revolutionary in increasing human understanding of the history of the Moon." The spacecraft is set to land in northern China's Inner Mongolia region.

China's Chang'e-5 spacecraft returning to Earth with Moon samples: Report

China's state media said the country's Chang'e-5&nbsp;mission&nbsp;has successfully landed on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/did-we-just-discover-the-moons-long-lost-sibling-340734">Moon</a> to retrieve lunar surface samples.

Watch:

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China had launched the spacecraft on November 24 to help scientists learn about the Moon's origins. It is the first attempt by any nation to retrieve Moon samples after the United States and the former Soviet Union nearly 50 years ago.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-launches-first-unmanned-spacecraft-to-moon-to-collect-lunar-rocks-344985">Also Read:&nbsp;China launches first unmanned spacecraft to Moon to collect lunar rocks</a>

The spacecraft will drill into the Moon's surface with a robotic arm and transfer the samples to a vehicle.&nbsp;

The Long March 5 rocket carrying the Chang'e-5&nbsp;probe had blasted off from the Wenchang Space Center on in the island province of Hainan. The mission was initially set to take off in 2017 but due to engine failure of the Long March 5 rocket had to be put off to a later date.

The Chang'e 5 spacecraft is set to bring back two kilograms of Moon surface from the "Oceanus Procellarum" part of the Moon which hasn't been explored earlier.&nbsp;

The sample is set to sent back to earth in a capsule and will likely land in northern China's Inner Mongolia region in early December.

Chinese authorities have named the Chang'e-5 mission after the ancient Chinese goddess of the Moon is the country's most ambitious project yet with the country aiming for manned mission to begin around 2022.

China is also planning to build a base on the Moon aimed at establishing a lunar mission by 2029.

 
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China's state media said the country's Chang'e-5 mission has successfully landed on the Moon to retrieve lunar surface samples. Watch: China had launched the spacecraft on November 24 to help scientists learn about the Moon's origins.

China's state media said the country's Chang'e-5 mission has successfully landed on the Moon to retrieve lunar surface samples. Watch: China had launched the spacecraft on November 24 to help scientists learn about the Moon's origins. It is the first attempt by any nation to retrieve Moon samples after the United States and the former Soviet Union nearly 50 years ago. Also Read: China launches first unmanned spacecraft to Moon to collect lunar rocks The spacecraft will drill into the Moon's surface with a robotic arm and transfer the samples to a vehicle. The Long March 5 rocket carrying the Chang'e-5 probe had blasted off from the Wenchang Space Center on in the island province of Hainan. The mission was initially set to take off in 2017 but due to engine failure of the Long March 5 rocket had to be put off to a later date. The Chang'e 5 spacecraft is set to bring back two kilograms of Moon surface from the "Oceanus Procellarum" part of the Moon which hasn't been explored earlier. The sample is set to sent back to earth in a capsule and will likely land in northern China's Inner Mongolia region in early December. Chinese authorities have named the Chang'e-5 mission after the ancient Chinese goddess of the Moon is the country's most ambitious project yet with the country aiming for manned mission to begin around 2022. China is also planning to build a base on the Moon aimed at establishing a lunar mission by 2029.

China's lunar probe Chang'e-5 mission lands on Moon: Report

China on Friday successfully launched a reusable experimental spacecraft whose mission details have been kept secret.

According to state-run Xinhua news agency, the spacecraft was launched on a Long March-2F carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China. Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported that the space mission has been shrouded in secrecy.

SCMP said staffers and visitors to the launch site have been warned against filming the lift-off and even discussing it online. The document also says "all units should strengthen personnel security education and personnel management during missions to ensure that there is no leakage of secrets."

After a period of in-orbit operation, the spacecraft will return to a predetermined landing site in China.

A Chinese military source said it was similar to the US X-37B.

The X-37B is an unmanned space plane that operates like a smaller version of the Space Shuttle, which is launched by a rocket and cruises back to earth for a runway landing.

Friday's launch comes weeks after China launched Tianwen-1, the country's first Mars mission, from Hainan in late July.

China on Friday successfully launched a reusable experimental spacecraft whose mission details have been kept secret. According to state-run Xinhua news agency, the spacecraft was launched on a Long March-2F carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China.

China on Friday successfully launched a reusable experimental spacecraft whose mission details have been kept secret. According to state-run Xinhua news agency, the spacecraft was launched on a Long March-2F carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China. Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported that the space mission has been shrouded in secrecy. SCMP said staffers and visitors to the launch site have been warned against filming the lift-off and even discussing it online. The document also says "all units should strengthen personnel security education and personnel management during missions to ensure that there is no leakage of secrets." After a period of in-orbit operation, the spacecraft will return to a predetermined landing site in China. A Chinese military source said it was similar to the US X-37B. The X-37B is an unmanned space plane that operates like a smaller version of the Space Shuttle, which is launched by a rocket and cruises back to earth for a runway landing. Friday's launch comes weeks after China launched Tianwen-1, the country's first Mars mission, from Hainan in late July.

China carries out secretive launch of reusable experimental spacecraft

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