STORY: China's spacecraft takes off from moon with first samples from lunar far side
SHOOTING TIME: June 4, 2024 & File
DATELINE: June 4, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:31
LOCATION: Beijing
CATEGORY: TECHNOLOGY

SHOTLIST:
1. photos of the video animation of the ascender of Chang'e-6 probe carrying samples collected from the moon's far side, lifting off from lunar surface, taken from Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC) on June 4, 2024
2. various of Chang'e-6 probe sampling on the moon, June 4, 2024
3. file footages of a Long March-5 rocket, carrying the Chang'e-6 spacecraft, launching at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, May 3, 2024.
4. camera on the lander-ascender combination of Chang'e-6 showing its landing in the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin on the far side of the moon on June 2, 2024
5. various of Chang'e-6 probe sampling on the moon, June 4, 2024

STORYLINE:

The ascender of China's Chang'e-6 probe lifted off from lunar surface on Tuesday morning, carrying samples collected from the moon's far side, an unprecedented feat in human lunar exploration history.

The ascender has entered a preset orbit around the moon, said the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

The Chang'e-6 probe, comprising an orbiter, a lander, an ascender and a returner was launched on May 3. Its lander-ascender combination touched down at the designated landing area in the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin on June 2.

The spacecraft finished its intelligent and rapid sampling work, and the samples were stowed in a container inside the ascender of the probe as planned, the CNSA said.

During sampling and packaging, researchers conducted simulated sampling in a ground lab, based on the detection data sent back by the Queqiao-2 relay satellite, providing important support for decision-making and operations in every link.

It adopted two methods of moon sampling, including using a drill to collect subsurface samples and grabbing samples on the surface with a robotic arm. It automatically gathered diverse samples at different sites.

The multiple payloads installed on the lander, including the landing camera, panoramic camera, lunar soil structure detector and lunar mineral spectrum analyzer, worked well and carried out scientific exploration as planned, the CNSA said.

The lunar soil structure detector analyzed and judged the underground lunar soil structure of the sampling area, providing data reference for the sample drilling.

After the sampling was completed, a Chinese national flag carried by the lander was unfurled for the first time on the far side of the moon.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)