Technical personnel monitor the transfer of samples collected on the moon from the ascender to the returner of China's Chang'e-5 probe at Beijing Aerospace Control Center in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 6, 2020 (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
BEIJING, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- The orbiter and returner combination of China's Chang'e-5 probe successfully separated from the spacecraft's ascender at 12:35 p.m. Sunday (Beijing Time), according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
The orbiter-returner will continue to orbit the moon, and wait for the right time to return to Earth with lunar samples.
Earlier on Sunday, the probe's ascender successfully rendezvoused and docked with the orbiter-returner combination in lunar orbit. ■
