Another treasure trove of Moon rocks is now on Earth. It was a significant achievement for China. They are late entrants in the field of space research. Scientists can now expect to study the latest samples of lunar rocks and dust. They have already studied similar samples, but those were more than four decades old and sourced from other locations. America and the former Soviet Union had brought them, and experts would be curious to study the latest ones to understand more about the alien surface. One of their objectives would probably be to identify material that would be useful to the world.

By this mission, China becomes the third country to bring back souvenirs of this type from a source that does not belong to the Earth. It is proof that it has acquired expertise in space-related areas and can set its sights on more complex programs. The team has exploited the modern-day tools of artificial intelligence, robotics, and Renewable Energy to the hilt.

CBS News says the Chang'e 5 probe touched down in the Inner Mongolia region with a capsule containing samples of rocks and dust from the Moon. American and former Soviet Union missions had brought similar samples earlier during the 1960s and 1970s and would be curious to learn more about the Moon from the new samples. The ground search teams recovered the Chinese capsule, and President Xi Jinping congratulated the mission on its success.

Collecting Moon rocks was a part of the space program of China

China landed its unmanned Chang'e 5 probe on the Moon to collect and bring back lunar rocks. That was in early December. The program was to collect lunar rocks and samples of soil from the surface of the Moon. It involved drilling into the crust of a previously unexplored lava plain.

The drilling was to a specified depth. CBS News adds that the material was stored in a sealed container on completion of the task and brought back to the Earth. This was another ambitious mission for China, and it unfurled its flag on the Moon. Incidentally, China's robot is already exploring the far side of the Moon as a part of its Chang'e-4 mission.

NASA congratulates China on its achievement

American Space Agency NASA congratulated China on its achievement. An official sent a message via Twitter after the return of the capsule. He said - "These samples will help reveal secrets of our Earth-Moon system and gain new insights about the history of our solar system."

The United States had sent the first man on the Moon in 1969 and plans to send the first woman in 2024 as a part of its Artemis project. America has always been ahead in the race and wants to maintain its supremacy.

China National Space Administration confirmed raising the Chinese flag for the first time on the lunar surface. The Chang'e 5 probe had the double distinction of being the third Chinese spacecraft to land on the Moon and the first to leave the surface.

CBS News explains the source of the rocks. These were from a region identified as the Mons Rümker. The samples are younger than those retrieved in earlier missions by the United States and the Soviet Union. With this mission's success, China becomes the third country in the world to retrieve samples from the Moon.

China has long term plans in space

According to CNBC, China earned another feather in its cap when it's Chang’e 5 spacecraft returned to Earth with a material load from the Moon. Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated the mission and said – “Our country and people will always remember your remarkable feats.” He urged the industry to make the country a power to reckon with in space. China already launched a mission to Mars in July – it is the Tianwen-1.
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