Science
China launches historic Chang’e 5 mission to collect the first moon samples since 1976 – Space.com
It’s been 44 years since humanity last brought lunar samples home.
The first lunar sample-return mission since the 1970s is underway.
China’s robotic Chang’e 5 mission
launched today (Nov. 23) from Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province, rising into the sky atop a Long March 5 rocket at about 3:30 p.m. EST (2130 GMT; 4:30 a.m.on Nov. 24 local time in Hainan).
If all goes according to plan, the bold and complex Chang’e 5 will haul pristine moon samples back to Earth in mid-December something that hasn’t been done since the Soviet Union’s Luna 24 mission…
