12 July 2021
On 12 July, 17.476 grams of lunar samples brought back by Chang'e 5 and separated into 21 lots were handed over to 13 research institutions, which had applied for research programmes to CNSA's Lunar Exploration and Space Program Centre. In total, 85 applications from 37 individuals working in 23 research institutions were received. Speaking at the hand-over ceremony, Liu Jizhong, the centre's Director, said that this is the 1st batch of lunar samples delivered to research institutions. More samples will be released and delivered in the future as planned. He said he hopes that more and more research institutions will take part in the lunar sample study in the future, also from the international science community.
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11 July 2021
Jean Deville and Blaine Curcio report in their latest Dongfang Hour China Space News Roundup about the EVA conducted from the Tianhe module, the several launches which happened during the last days, and the news on satellite internet ambitions in the towns of Guanzhou and Tianjin.
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14 July 2021
"Collaboration between several nations in any large-scale technical and scientific project is always good," said the Swiss astronaut. "I look forward to seeing more Sino-European collaboration in space, and I am convinced it will happen, and intensify!" Drawing from his personal experience in spacewalks, Nicollier shared a personal message with Chinese taikonauts of the SZ-12 mission: "I would like to wish the three Chinese astronauts onboard the Tiangong station a successful continuation of their mission, and I congratulate them on their achievements!"
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16 July 2021
As of 15 July, Zhurong has been operating on the surface of Mars for 60 Martian days and has traveled 450 m since its deployment to the surface. It has been traveling southward to conduct exploration and inspection activities. The navigation terrain camera on the rover has been taking pictures of the Martian landscape every day. Also on 15 July, CNSA published 3 images taken by Zhurong showing the parachute and bowl-shaped back shell used in the rover's landing. Both items were about 30 m from the rover and 350 m from the landing site.
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