China Launches Spacecraft to Compete With US at Lunar South Pole
- Goal is to become first to return samples from moon’s far side
- Polar region may have water deposits vital for human presence
A Long March 5 rocket, carrying the Chang'e-6 mission lunar probe, lifts off from China's Hainan Province on May 3.
Photographer: Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
China launched the first spacecraft to collect samples from the moon’s far side and return them to Earth, solidifying the nation’s position as the main competitor to the US in the race to establish a long-term presence on the lunar surface.
A Long March-5 rocket carrying the uncrewed Chang’e-6 took off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in the southern province of Hainan late Friday afternoon, state media reported.