Hu Hao, general designer of China’s moon probe Chang’e-5, announced at the 74th International Aviation Conference (IAC) held in Baku, Azerbaijan in early October that China will open applications to global scientists to study lunar soil samples.
The Chang’e-5 probe was launched to the moon in November 2020, and returned to Earth 23 days later with a cargo of 1.7 kilograms of lunar material collected from the Oceanus Procellarum (Ocean of Storms) region. It was the largest sample collected in one mission, and the first since the Soviet Luna 24 mission in 1976. The samples are around 2.3 billion years old.
Hu said China has already distributed six samples, 77.86 grams in total. Applicants can apply on the China National Space Administration (CNSA) website.
At the IAC conference, the Chang’e-5 Mission Team was awarded the Laurels for Team Achievement Award, the IAC’s highest team honor, for “outstanding contributions to human lunar and deep space exploration,” along with the International Artemis Mission 1 Team and the Emirates Mars Mission Team.
According to the CNSA, China plans to send astronauts to the moon by 2030.
Old Version
