China has released the first official images of lunar samples retrieved by the Chang'e 5 mission in December. Select specimens will soon go on public display in Beijing.
In December, China successfully concluded the Chang'e 5 mission, marking the first return of fresh lunar material to Earth in nearly 50 years. The probe collected 1,731 kilograms of rock from Oceanus Procellarum. After weeks of analysis, the nation shared these inaugural photos following a high-level meeting on Monday between the Chinese president and mission representatives.
The images below showcase fine, dark regolith and basalt glasses formed by ancient lunar volcanism, as detailed in the accompanying descriptions.
China has pledged to share portions of these samples with international scientists. Unlike older specimens from U.S. and Soviet missions, these younger rocks offer fresh insights into the Moon's geological history.
In March, visitors to China's National Museum in Beijing can view these extraterrestrial treasures encased in a specially designed crystal container, as shown in the header image.
The container's dimensions are symbolic: 38.44 centimeters tall, echoing the Earth-Moon distance of 384,400 km, and 22.89 centimeters wide, honoring the mission's 22.89 days in space.
A spherical cavity at its center holds the samples, symbolizing the Moon, with a commemorative Chinese plaque below.
During the meeting, the president praised the team's achievements and emphasized future ambitions. China's lunar program enters its fourth phase with Chang'e 6, a new sample return mission targeting the lunar south pole in 2024.
Beyond the Moon, China's space agenda includes the Tianwen-1 mission, now in Mars orbit and gearing up for a landing in three months—potentially making China the second nation to land on the Red Planet. The Chinese National Space Administration also prepares to launch the core module of its successor to the International Space Station.
