By 
December 1st, 2020
Credit: CCTV
China’s Chang’e-5 spacecraft successfully landed on the near side of the Moon late Tuesday and sent back images, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced.
Credit: CCTV
According to China news groups, the spacecraft landed at the preselected landing area near 51.8 degrees west longitude and 43.1 degrees north latitude, citing a CNSA statement.
Chang’e-5 reportedly touched down on the north of the Mons Rumker in Oceanus Procellarum, also known as the Ocean of Storms, on the near side of the Moon.
En route to Moon landing image taken by Chang’e-5 lander. Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Blast effects from landing engine? Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Status checks
Under ground-control, the lander carried out a series of status checks and settings, preparing for around 48 hours of work on the surface of the Moon.
If all goes according to plan, the lander craft will stash about 2 kilograms of lunar samples and seal them in a container.
Following this specimen-stashing, the Chang’e-5’s ascender will take off and dock with the orbiter-returner combination in Moon orbit.
After the samples are transferred to the returner, the ascender will separate from the orbiter-returner.
Ascender departs the Moon with lunar collectibles.
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
The returner is then to transfer the lunar collectibles back to Earth, landing at Siziwang Banner in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
Fiery reentry for capsule carrying lunar samples.
Credit: CCTV/Inside
Kudos
The successful landing of Chang’e-5 was underscored by several U.S. space leaders.
NASA’s Thomas Zurbuchen, Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate noted post-landing: “Congratulations to China on the successful landing of Chang’e 5. This is no easy task. When the samples collected on the Moon are returned to Earth, we hope everyone will benefit from being able to study this precious cargo that could advance the international science community.”
Similarly, Clive Neal, a lunar scientist from Notre Dame said: “Congratulations to our friends and colleagues in China on what has been achieved so far. We all look forward to seeing the first samples returned from the Moon in 44 years. These will represent the first lunar samples returned in the 21st century – and I hope they will not be the last!”
Capsule return with Moon samples, landing at Siziwang Banner in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Go to landing video at New China TV:
Posted in Space News
