China Makes History: Chang’e 6 Lands on Moon’s Far Side and Returns Samples

The Chang’e 6 spacecraft was launched on May 3, 2024, from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on Hainan Island, China, using the powerful Chang Zheng 5 rocket. After entering an elliptical orbit around the Moon on May 7, the spacecraft waited for optimal light conditions to proceed with the landing. On June 1, 2024, at 6:23 PM ET (2223 UTC) or 6:23 AM on June 2 China Standard Time, the lander touched down successfully in the Apollo Basin, which is located within the vast South Pole-Aitken Basin, the oldest and largest impact crater on the Moon’s surface.