China to launch sample return mission to the far side of the Moon – maybe next week

The Register

By Simon Sharwood
Tue 30 Apr 2024 // 06:57 UTC

China’s space program will next week launch mission that aims to land on the Moon, take samples, and bring them back to Earth.

The Chang’e-6 probe and the Long March-5 Yao-8 rocket that will carry it into space were moved to a launchpad at the Wenchang Space Launch Site on Saturday. China’s National Space Agency named “early May” as the likely launch window – other reports name May 3 as the expected launch date.

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