At at 17:27 local time (10:27 BST), an unmanned rocket carrying the Chang’e-6 probe lifted off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center.
Approximately two kg of lunar samples are to be brought to Earth for study during the 53-day mission.
It will attempt a second launch from the moon’s side that faces away from Earth.
Not because it does not get sunlight, but rather because it is imperceptible from Earth, this side of the moon is referred to as the dark side.
Compared to the close side, it has a thicker, older crust with more craters that are less covered in old lava flows.
Scientists anticipate that this will make it easier to gather evidence that clarifies the Moon’s formation.
