Fly to the Moon: China’s lunar probe and tech advancement during the pandemic

For centuries, Chinese people have been making endless efforts to explore the secrets of the moon. For the past few decades, China has designed and developed many satellites and spaceships for exploring the moon, but it is in December, when China’s Chang’e-5 probe retrieved 1,731 g of lunar soil and rock samples to earth, that has caught the world’s attention. It was China’s first sample-return mission and the first lunar sample-return mission since the former Soviet Union’s Luna 24 in 1976. By completing the mission, China became the third country to successfully obtain samples returned from the moon after the United States and the former Soviet Union.

-- China's Chang'e-5 spacecraft successfully landed on the near side of the moon late Tuesday

-- The lander has carried out a series of status checks and settings, preparing for around 48 hours of work on the surface of the moon.

-- About 2 kg of samples are expected to be collected and sealed in a container.

-- Chang'e-5 will carry out an unmanned rendezvous and docking in a lunar orbit around 380,000 km away, a first in the history of space exploration. The orbiter is expected to carry the returner back to Earth.

China's Mars probe Tianwen-1 has traveled more than 400 million km by Sunday morning and is expected to enter Mars orbit next month, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

As of 6 a.m. on Sunday (Beijing Time), the Mars probe had flown in space for 163 days. It was about 130 million km from Earth and about 8.3 million km from Mars.

With news of achievements pouring in these days, China is pushing forward its deep space exploration, aiming to contribute its wisdom in humankind's peaceful utilization of outer space.

SPACE STATION CONSTRUCTION

On April 29, China sent into space the core module of its space station, kicking off a series of key launch missions that aim to complete the construction of the station by the end of next year.