03 December 2020
China's Chang'e-5 probe has completed sampling on the moon, and the samples have been sealed inside the spacecraft, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced in the morning of 3 December. After the spacecraft worked for about 19 hours on the Moon, the sampling ended on 2 December at 22:00 BJT, and the samples were stowed in a container inside the ascender of the probe as planned, said CNSA. By using data sent back by the probe, researchers simulated the sampling procedure in a lab, providing an important basis for the operation on the Moon. The lunar regolith penetrating radar and other payloads installed on the lander have carried out scientific exploration as planned and provided information support for sampling.
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Video footage of sampling process