China has launched a rocket to the moon, as part of a probe to collect samples from the far side.
The spacecraft was carrying the Chang'e-6 probe, and set off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center at around 5.27pm local time (10.27am BST).
It's hoped that the launch will provide insights into differences between the less-explored region and the better-known near side. After this, it will return samples.
It is expected to make a soft landing in the South Pole-Aitken Basin, which is 2,500km (1,553 miles) wide and up to 8km (five miles) deep.
Before the launch, Ge Ping, vice director of China's Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center, said: "Chang'e-6 will collect samples from the far side of the Moon for the first time.”
Meanwhile, Pierre-Yves Meslin, a French researcher working on one of the scientific objectives of the Chang'e-6 mission, said, "It is a bit of a mystery to us how China has been able to develop such an ambitious and successful programme in such a short time.”
What is the spacecraft?
The spacecraft is The Long March-5, China's largest rocket. It is sometimes referred to by its nickname, "Pang-Wu". The Long March-5 was developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) and is the fifth iteration of the Long March rocket family.
What is the mission?
The mission aims to bring back 2kg of lunar soil and rocks to Earth for analysis, as well as conduct experiments, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said.
After the probe separates from the rocket, it will take four to five days to reach the moon's orbit. It will land in early June, and will be 53 days long in total.
Scientists hope that analysing the samples could make it easier to collect material, shedding light on how the Moon was formed.
Has China sent a spacecraft to the moon before?
This rocket and previous rockets were launched as part of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program, an ongoing series of robotic Moon missions by the China National Space Administration (CNSA). Five years ago, China became the first country to land a rover on the Moon's far side.Here is a list of rockets launched:
- The Chang'e 1 lunar orbiter launched from Xichang Satellite Launch Center on 24 October, 2007
- Chang'e 2, was launched on 1 October, 2010
- Chang'e 3, which includes a lander and rover, was launched on 1 December, 2013
- Chang'e 4 was launched on 7 December, 2018
- A sample return mission, Chang'e 5, launched on 23 November, 2020
- Chang'e 6 launched on 3 May, 2024
Future launches
Chang'e 7, expected to launch in 2026, is a mission that will explore the lunar south pole for water.
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Chang'e 8 is expected to launch in 2028, and will attempt to build a base, to be known as the International Lunar Research Station.
By 2030, China aims to have put its first astronauts on the Moon, and to have sent probes to collect samples from Mars and Jupiter.
Which countries have sent spacecraft to the moon?
The following countries have sent spacecraft to the moon:
The Soviet Union
The United States
Japan
The European Space Agency
China
India
Luxembourg
Israel
Italy
South Korea
The United Arab Emirates
Russia
Mexico
Pakistan
