China's mission, a success! The space probe returns with rare rocks from the Moon

China's mission to the Moon concluded successfully: Its space probe returned with the first samples of rare rock formations from the unexplored side of Earth's only natural satellite.

Chang’e-6 landed in the Inner Mongolia desert after a nearly two-month mission filled with risks. Scientists eagerly await the analysis of the samples, hoping they may provide valuable information about how planets were formed. China is the only country to have landed on the far side of the Moon, which is considered technically challenging to reach due to its distance and difficult terrain, featuring giant craters and flat surfaces.

Experts are highly interested in this less-explored side because it is thought to contain traces of ice, implying water, oxygen, and hydrogen. The samples taken there reportedly include 2.5-billion-year-old volcanic rocks and other highly interesting materials. The Chang’e-6 mission has become a source of national pride for China, which has gradually increased its Moon missions, drawing attention away from its rival, the USA. The probe was launched on May 3, and its journey lasted 53 days.