Early on June 25, after nearly two months in space, the Chang'e 6 spacecraft is returning to Earth. The probe is scheduled to land in Inner Mongolia, a highly northern region of China — and with its return will come gifts from the far side of the moon.
Naturally, lunar scientists are eagerly awaiting the probe’s return. Chang’e 6 is carrying about 4.4 pounds (2 kilograms) of lunar samples, the first-ever lunar far side specimens to be returned to our planet. And following the Chinese spacecraft's landing, expected to occur at 1:41 a.m. EDT (0541 GMT), a few Earthbound scientists will be able to get their hands on the precious samples and ready them for thorough investigation.
