CNSA
Chang'e 5 robotic lunar probe has started gathering lunar rocks and soil after landing. Credit: China National Space Administration.

The Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) Chang’e 5 spacecraft has successfully landed in the Mons Rumker region on the Moon.

The spacecraft was launched onboard the Long March 5 heavy-lift carrier rocket from Wenchang Space Launch Centre on Hainan Island, China.

The landing took place in the Mons Rumker region of Oceanus Procellarum on 1 December.

Prior to landing, the spacecraft went into orbit around the Moon following a 17-minute thruster firing on 28 November.

The orbiter and the descender craft separated the next day.

The lander is designed to be able to operate for one lunar day or two weeks.

The sample container will contain between 2kg and 4kg of lunar regolith samples after running 15 samplings from a depth of up to 2m.

The re-entry will land in the Siziwang Banner grassland of the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia in northern China. It is scheduled for 16 or 17 December.

Xinhua reported citing CNSA lunar exploration and space programme centre deputy director Pei Zhaoyu that the mission will promote China’s science and technology development and set the foundation for the country’s manned lunar landing and deep space exploration in the future.

In September, China declared the Kuaizhou-1A rocket mission a failure during the launch of an optical remote sensing satellite for the Jilin-1 satellite constellation.