Space Missions

Mission Update: Mars and the Moon

Mission teams presenting at this week's Lunar and Planetary Science Conference provided updates on the Perseverance and Zhurong rovers at Mars, Chang'e 5's lunar sample return, and more.

Rectified version of the Chang'e 5 panorama

Solar System

China's Lunar Samples Confirm Late Volcanism, Pose New Questions

China's Chang'e 5 mission returned pieces of the Moon in a technological feat last year. Now, scientists are publishing the first analyses of those samples.

Chang'e 5 T1 view of the Moon and Earth

Space Missions

China's Chang'e 5 Probe Heads Sunward

China’s Chang’e 5 spacecraft helped deliver samples from the Moon to Earth. Now it’s heading for an extended mission to observe the Sun.

Chang'e 5

Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson

Chang'e 5's Lunar Sample Arrives on Earth

China’s Chang’e 5 lunar sample-return capsule has arrived safely on Earth.

Chang'e 5 panorama

Space Missions

China's Chang'e 5 Collects Samples, Departs from the Moon

China's Chang’e-5 ascent vehicle has departed Oceanus Procellarum with pieces of lunar soil after a lightning-quick sample collection.

Chang'e 5 (art)

Astronomy in Space with David Dickinson

China Lands Ambitious Sample-Return Mission on the Moon

The aim of China's Chang'e 5 mission is to return samples of lunar soil to Earth by the end of 2020.