China’s Chang’e-6 Heads Home Carrying First-Ever Lunar Far Side Samples Written 24 June 2024
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China's Chang'e-6 lander and ascender on the Moon (artist's impression) | Credit: China News Service; Wikipedia; CC BY 3.0
Space News reports, “China’s Chang’e-6 spacecraft is on its way to Earth to deliver samples collected from the far side of the moon. The Chang’e-6 service module likely fired its engines for a trans-Earth injection around June 21. The spacecraft is now on the final leg of its complex, 53-day voyage involving a lunar landing, sampling, ascent and docking. A reentry capsule containing the unique samples will be released from the service module shortly before arrival at Earth early June 25.”
Full Story (Space News)