China’s Chang’e 6 probe

samples launches of far side of the moon to lunar orbit. Next stop? 

The China moon mission is proceeding at a high pace as collected samples begin their historic journey back to Earth.

China’s Chang’e 6 lander has sent home stunning images of the lunar surface on the mysterious far side of the moon. 

Additionally, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) has released stunning footage that shows the lunar far side samples the lander has been collecting over the past two days. The samples were launched to orbit at 7:38 a.m. Beijing Time on Tuesday, June 4 (7:38 p.m. EDT on June 3).

Chang’e 6 landed in the unexplored Apollo Basin crater within the larger South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin located on the far side of the moon on the morning of Sunday, June 2, Beijing Time. The new images and video show that this historic mission, which represents only the second soft landing on the hemisphere of the moon that perpetually faces away from Earth, is progressing at an impressive pace.

“China’s Chang’e 6 ascender separated from the lander and lifted off from the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the moon at 7:38 a.m. Beijing Time on June 4,” CNSA said in a statement. “It is carrying lunar samples gathered during the past two days. After about six minutes, it entered the targeted orbit and will begin several orbital maneuvers in the next step of the process.”

The samples will be snagged from orbit by the Chang’e 6 orbiter, which remained in space around the moon after the ascender rocket departed from it for landing, carrying the Chang’e 6 lander to the lunar surface. If this operation goes according to plan, the sample canister will be parachuted back to Earth on June 25.