NewStats: 3,261,759 , 8,175,048 topics. Date: Friday, 30 May 2025 at 12:33 PM 184n3e

BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese spacecraft landed on the far side of the moon Sunday to collect soil and rock samples that could provide insights into differences between the less-explored region and the better-known near side.

The landing module touched down at 6:23 a.m. Beijing time in a huge crater known as the South Pole-Aitken Basin, the China National Space istration said.

The mission is the sixth in the Chang’e moon exploration program, which is named after a Chinese moon goddess. It is the second designed to bring back samples, following the Chang’e 5, which did so from the near side in 2020.

The moon program is part of a growing rivalry with the U.S. — still the leader in space exploration — and others, including Japan and India. China has put its own space station in orbit and regularly sends crews there.

The emerging global power aims to put a person on the moon before 2030, which would make it the second nation after the United States to do so. America is planning to land astronauts on the moon again — for the first time in more than 50 years — though NASA pushed the target date back to 2026 earlier this year.

U.S. efforts to use private-sector rockets to launch spacecraft have been repeatedly delayed. Last-minute computer trouble nixed the planned launch of Boeing’s first astronaut flight Saturday.

Earlier Saturday, a Japanese billionaire called off his plan to orbit the moon because of uncertainty over the development of a mega rocket by SpaceX. NASA is planning to use the rocket to send its astronauts to the moon.

In China’s current mission, the lander is to use a mechanical arm and a drill to gather up to 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of surface and underground material over about two days.

An ascender atop the lander will then take the samples in a metal vacuum container back to another module that is orbiting the moon. The container will be transferred to a reentry capsule that is due to return to Earth in the deserts of China’s Inner Mongolia region about June 25.

Missions to the moon’s far side are more difficult because it doesn’t face the Earth, requiring a relay satellite to maintain communications. The terrain is also more rugged, with fewer flat areas to land.

The South Pole-Aitken Basin, an impact crater created more than 4 billion years ago, is 13 kilometers (8 miles) deep and has a diameter of 2,500 kilometers (1,500 miles), according to a report by China’s Xinhua News Agency.

It is the oldest and largest of such craters on the moon, so may provide the earliest information about it, Xinhua said, adding that the huge impact may have ejected materials from deep below the surface.

https://apnews.com/article/china-space-moon-lander-446770171c61cdc27b2a307f51940300

First to comment

No pics, no link?!

We would like to see pictures

Progressive nation not some mentally deranged hungry tribal bigots calling themselves progressives and lovers of Nigeria just because their tribesman is currently in charge of Nigeria's destruction in the name of being a failed President

This thing go pain the West. On top all the sanctions and antagonism the dragon 🐉 still waxing stronger.

First nation, e no easy. Thumbs up China.

I hope they find Sentinel Prime before the Decepticons do. The fate of the realm rests in a balance.

False.

G

Na to compete for the first country to send a spacecraft that will successfully land in heaven and snap God na him go remain.

Dark side of the moon by Pink Floyd is a classic album.(best selling album of the 70s) a d one of the highest selling albums in music history.

Oneday Nigeria too will send representative that will land on the moon. Only it might not be soon

Great achievement,what’s NASDRA doing ?

One of the reasons of Nigeria engineering redundancy aside from japa is because many graduates are not practicing in their field .

Appolo🤣🤣🤣🤣

west sha

Odumeje said that everybody in Nigeria is a stark illiterate......and i agree with him 100%

These are the kind of cheering news you keep getting from countries where educated people live.

In Nigeria,one clueless BATeria and his gang are more fixated on old national anthem while insecurity, high food inflation, people living in multi dimensional poverty,low purchasing power,hunger and starvation etc are ravaging the country.

God bless people's Republic of China and other countries making real efforts in helping humanity

Science, Technology and Innovation is gradually moving East Ward.

Ok

Be looking for spiritual trouble dey play.

Interesting times ahead. That side is known for it's heavy Alien activity

😎

Indian people how market Chinese don take over

Why Nigeria is more interested in changing national anthem

Far side of the technology

very impressive innovation. I wonder when Nigeria could achieve this 😑

Obakoolex:
Oneday Nigeria too will send representative that will land on the moon. Only it might not be soon

We have achieved that already. If you doubt me ask Lie mohammed

China has eventually taking the position of thw USSR

Congratulation to the Chinese

One corn3 career criminal is more invested on how to loot to oblivion a country he met intact.

We will land minimum wage on the far side of market prices soon too.

While thifnubu has borrowed over 20Trillion naira for owambe.

We are still on band A&B and cow.

Naso

Check My profile for a better Laptop deal.
Hp Elite x2 1012.
Detachable Touchscreen going for 300K only.
Slightly Negotiable.
Location Lagos Ikeja Computer Village.