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Dec. 6, 2020
The Chang’e-5 ascender automatically docked with orbiter-sample return vehicle
The Chang’e-5 ascender automatically docked with the orbiter-sample return vehicle on 5 December 2020, at 21:42 UTC (6 December, at 05:42 China Standard Time). At 22:12 UTC (6 December, 06:12 CST), the sample container, containing the soil collected from the Moon, was transferred from the ascender to the sample return vehicle. Chang’e-5 will orbit the Moon for a few days, waiting for adequate window to return to Earth.
Chang’e-5 docking and sample transfer
According to Lin Yangting (professor, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences), a joint team will be formed with European researchers to study the samples, part of the cooperation with the European Space Agency.
Related articles:
Chang’e-5 - Rendezvous and docking explained
https://orbiterchspacenews.blogspot.com/2020/12/change-5-rendezvous-and-docking.html
Chang’e-5 ascends to lunar orbit
https://orbiterchspacenews.blogspot.com/2020/12/change-5-ascends-to-lunar-orbit.html
Chang’e-5 collecting lunar samples
https://orbiterchspacenews.blogspot.com/2020/12/change-5-collecting-lunar-samples.html
Chang’e-5 lands on the Moon
https://orbiterchspacenews.blogspot.com/2020/12/change-5-lands-on-moon.html
Chang’e-5 ready for Moon landing
https://orbiterchspacenews.blogspot.com/2020/11/change-5-ready-for-moon-landing.html
Chang’e-5 enters lunar orbit
https://orbiterchspacenews.blogspot.com/2020/11/change-5-enters-lunar-orbit.html
Chang’e-5 completes first orbital correction
https://orbiterchspacenews.blogspot.com/2020/11/change-5-completes-first-orbital.html
CASC - Long March-5 Y5 launches Chang’e-5 lunar mission
https://orbiterchspacenews.blogspot.com/2020/11/casc-long-march-5-y5-launches-change-5.html
ESA tracks Chang'e-5 Moon mission
https://orbiterchspacenews.blogspot.com/2020/11/esa-tracks-change-5-moon-mission.html
For more information about China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), visit: http://english.spacechina.com/n16421/index.html
For more information about China National Space Administration (CNSA), visit: http://www.cnsa.gov.cn/
Image, Video, Text, Credits: China Central Television (CCTV)/China National Space Administration (CNSA)/SciNews/Orbiter.ch Aerospace/Roland Berga.
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