Staff members work at the landing site of the return capsule of China's Chang'e-5 probe in Siziwang Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, on Dec. 17, 2020.(Xinhua/Ren Junchuan)
BEIJING, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- The return capsule of China's Chang'e-5 probe touched down on Earth in the early hours of Thursday, bringing back the country's first samples collected from the moon, as well as the world's freshest lunar samples in over 40 years.
The spacecraft landed in Siziwang Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, according to the China National Space Administration.
The return capsule of China's Chang'e-5 probe lands in Siziwang Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, on Dec. 17, 2020.(Xinhua/Lian Zhen)
Staff members work at the landing site of the return capsule of China's Chang'e-5 probe in Siziwang Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, on Dec. 17, 2020.(Xinhua/Ren Junchuan)
Screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 17, 2020 shows staff members searching for the return capsule of China's Chang'e-5 probe in Siziwang Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.(Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
It marks a successful conclusion of China's current three-step lunar exploration program of orbiting and landing, and bringing back samples, which began in 2004.
Technical personnel work at Beijing Aerospace Control Center in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 17, 2020.(Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
Technical personnel monitor the landing of the return capsule of China's Chang'e-5 probe at Beijing Aerospace Control Center in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 17, 2020.(Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)
Chang'e-5 is one of the most complicated and challenging missions in China's aerospace history. The probe, comprising an orbiter, a lander, an ascender and a returner, was launched on Nov. 24, and its lander-ascender combination 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 on Dec. 1.
The milestone mission has accomplished several firsts for China, including the first moon sampling, the first liftoff from an extraterrestrial body, the first rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit and the first spacecraft carrying samples to re-enter Earth's atmosphere at high speed.
This simulated image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 17, 2020 shows the return capsule of China's Chang'e-5 probe landing in Siziwang Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.(Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
Technical personnel shake hands to celebrate the landing of the return capsule of China's Chang'e-5 probe at Beijing Aerospace Control Center in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 17, 2020.(Xinhua/Jin Liwang)
Staff members pose for a group photo at the landing site of the return capsule of China's Chang'e-5 probe in Siziwang Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Dec. 17, 2020.(Xinhua/Lian Zhen)■
