China’s largest rocket has blasted off to space carrying the Chang’e-6 lunar probe for a nearly two-month mission to retrieve rocks and soil from the far side of the moon, in a world-first attempt.
The Long March-5 rocket lifted off at 5:27pm (09:27 GMT) on Friday from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre on the southern island province of Hainan with the more than eight-tonne probe.
The launch marks another milestone in China’s lunar and space exploration programme.
“Collecting and returning samples from the far side of the moon is an unprecedented feat,” Wu Weiren, chief designer of the country’s lunar exploration programme, told state news agency Xinhua.
Chang’e-6 is named after the Chinese mythical moon goddess.
“We know very little about the moon’s far side. If the Chang’e-6 mission can achieve its goal, it will provide scientists with the first direct evidence to understand the environment and material composition of the far side of the moon, which is of great significance,” he said.
Like its predecessor Chang’e-5, the Chang’e-6 comprises an orbiter, a lander, and an ascender, as well as a mechanism that allows it to return to Earth, according to Xinhua.
The South Pole-Aitken Basin, where Chang’e-6 is set to land, is on the dark side of the moon that remains mysterious as it perpetually faces away from Earth.
