Chang’e 5: Chinese scientists take delivery of 1.7kg of moon rocks
- Space administration hands samples over to the National Astronomical Observatories which has built a new laboratory to study them
- Lunar materials will ‘help humankind understand the moon’s fundamental characteristics’ and aid the development of new missions, NAO says
The 1.73kg (3.8lbs) of materials collected during the 23-day journey were transferred on Saturday to the country’s first-ever lunar sample lab at the National Astronomical Observatories (NAO), a Beijing-based agency under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Xinhua reported.
The facility will allow for the long-term storage of the samples in a high purity nitrogen environment and ensure there is no contamination or chemical effects during the research process, the NAO said on WeChat.
“This research cannot only help humankind understand the moon’s fundamental characteristics, but will also provide the basis for lunar machines, astronaut spacesuits and landing areas for future survey missions,” it said.
A ceremony was held on Saturday morning to hand over the samples – the first to be collected from the moon since 1976 – to the CAS from the Chinese National Space Administration.
Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He, who attended the event, hailed the Chang’e 5 mission as an “important milestone on the path to becoming a space power.”
