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China Space Agency: Lunar Probe Successfully Lands on Moon

VOA News

   The China National Space Administration (CNSA)has announced its
   Chang'e-5 spacecraft, designed to collect lunar samples and return them
   to Earth, successfully landed on the near side of the moon.

   China state media report the spacecraft arrived at the preselected
   landing area Tuesday and sent back images to the CNSA.

   The spacecraft -- composed of orbiter, lander, ascender and returner
   components - was launched a week ago.

   The CNSA said the lander-ascender combination of the Chang'e-5 probe
   began a powered descent from about 15 kilometers above the lunar
   surface. They say the probe touched down on the north of the region
   known as Mons Rumker in Oceanus Procellarum, also called the Ocean of
   Storms, on the near side of the moon.

   Under ground control, the lander carried out a series of status checks
   and settings, preparing for about 48 hours of work on the lunar
   surface.

   The space agency saidabout 2 kilograms of samples are expected to be
   collected and sealed in a container. Then the ascender will take off
   and dock with the orbiter-returner combination in orbit. After the
   samples are transferred to the returner, the ascender will separate
   from the orbiter-returner.

   The orbiter is expected to carry the returner back to Earth. The
   returner is scheduled to reenter the atmosphere and land at Siziwang
   Banner in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

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