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Chinese scientists have laid their hands on a very precious container inside which are the first soil samples taken from the surface of the moon in 44 years.
They were returned to earth by the Chang’e-5 lunar probe earlier this week and are now in Beijing ready for analysis.
It is a significant success for China’s lunar program and its leaders hope it is just a first step.
“Next year and the next will be a very busy time for our space programs. We plan to complete 11 missions in two years,” said Wu Yanhua, deputy administrator of the China National Space Administration and deputy commander-in-chief of the Lunar Exploration Program. from China.
“Our plans include Chang’e-7 and Chang’e-8, which we will use as an opportunity to cooperate with relevant countries and international organizations to explore the construction of a scientific research station on the moon.”
The Chang’e-5 capsule returned to Mongolia on Thursday before being flown by helicopter to Beijing.
Preliminary measurements suggest that it contains 1,731 grams of lunar samples.
They are the first soil samples from both the surface and below the surface of the moon since the Soviet Union’s Luna 24 mission in 1976.
