China’s Chang’e-6 probe is returning to Earth with the first samples collected from the far side of the moon, marking a significant milestone for Beijing’s space program.

The probe landed in the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin on Sunday, gathered rock and soil samples over two days, and then unfurled a Chinese flag on the lunar surface.

The probe’s ascender module has now lifted off from the moon and entered orbit, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

Experts highlight the importance of this achievement, noting that only the USA and Russia have previously recovered lunar samples, The Guardian reported.

This mission demonstrates China’s advanced space capabilities, especially given the technical challenges of taking off from the moon’s far side.

The samples are expected to provide valuable insights into the moon’s formation and evolution, differences between its near and far sides, and clues about how Earth came to support life.

Written by B.C. Begley