NEWS//China's lunar landing

China’s lunar lander did not stay long on the moon but it accomplished extraordinary feats of technology.

The Chang’e 5 craft touched down on the lunar surface on Tuesday, December 1. It is the third Chinese craft to land on the moon. (See video of the landing below.) On Thursday, December 3, it became the first Chinese spacecraft to take off from the moon. An additional first happened after the ascender rendezvoused with its orbiter and the craft that will return it to earth.

During its two days on the moon, Chang’e 5 collected about four pounds of lunar rocks. Returning lunar rocks to earth has not happened since the Soviet’s Luna 24 unmanned landing in September 1976. Prior to that, the U.S. Apollo moon landings brought back several hundred pounds of rocks.

Chang’e 5 was only able to stay one lunar daytime (about 14 Earth days) because it lacked the radioisotope heating units to withstand the moon’s freezing nights.

“Pulling off the Chang’e 5 mission would be an impressive feat for any nation,” said Florida-based expert Stephen Clark of the publication Spaceflight Now.

Sources: AP News 01, AP NEWS 02, Axios, New York Times, Ars Technica, Shine.CN

Update: (December 7) Chang’e 5 ascender’s rendezvous with its obiter is confirmed. AP News

Update: (December 17) Chang’e 5 lunar samples have returned to earth. Global Times