The probe landed on the lunar surface on Sunday, in one of the oldest craters on the moon, the South PoleAitken (SPA) basin, then spent two days gathering rock and soil samples using its drill and robotic arm.
After it had gathered its samples, "a Chinese national flag carried by the lander was unfurled for the first time on the far side of the moon", the China National Space Administration said.
The CNSA confirmed the probe was on its return journey, with its ascender module having "lifted off from the lunar surface" and entered a preset orbit around the moon.
The development has been welcomed by the scientific community.
This story is from the June 05, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the June 05, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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