China's Chang'e-6 Lunar Probe Returns to Earth with Historic Far Side Samples

China has successfully returned to Earth with samples from the far side of the moon, a historic achievement that marks the first time any country has collected lunar material from this previously unexplored region. The Chang'e-6 spacecraft landed in Inner Mongolia on Tuesday after a nearly two-month mission, carrying soil and rocks from the Moon's far side. China's space agency confirmed that the probe was functioning normally during its return journey. The samples are highly anticipated by scientists as they could provide valuable insights into how planets are formed. China is the only country to have landed on the far side of the moon, having done so before in 2019 with the Chang'e-4 mission. The successful return of the lunar material wraps up a highly successful mission for the China National Space Administration. The re-entry capsule containing the precious cargo parachuted into a designated landing zone in Inner Mongolia's Siziwang Banner region, where it was greeted by applause from onlookers who watched the event via livestream. The Chang'e-6 spacecraft touched down at 2:07 pm local time (06:07 GMT) and is expected to provide scientists with valuable data and insights into the Moon's composition and formation.