![China launched a Long March 5 rocket Friday, May 3, carrying the Chang’e 6 spacecraft, aiming to be the first mission to return a sample from the far side of the moon.](https://san.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Chinas-historic-moon-mission-CLEAN-GETTY.jpg?w=1920)
[Chinese launch sequence]
[KARAH RUCKER]
THAT WAS HOW IT SOUNDED THIS MORNING AS CHINA SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED A ROCKET CARRYING ITS “CHANG-UH” 6 SPACECRAFT – LOOKING TO BECOME THE FIRST MISSION TO BRING BACK A SAMPLE FROM THE FAR SIDE OF THE MOON.
THE NAME “CHANG-UH” REFERS TO THE CHINESE MOON GODDESS.
SCIENTISTS HOPING THE SAMPLES WILL SHED LIGHT ON THE MOON’S ORIGIN.
IT WILL TAKE THE SPACECRAFT 5 DAYS TO REACH THE MOON. THE MISSION LASTING 53 DAYS TOTAL.
AS THE SPACE RACE HEATS UP — CHINA REMAINS THE ONLY COUNTRY TO HAVE A LUNAR LANDER REACH THE FAR SIDE OF THE MOON — DOING SO IN 2019.