China’s Chang’e-6 probe blasts off from the moon with the first-ever ‘far side’ samples

The first rock samples from the far side of the moon, collected by China’s Chang’e-6 mission, have taken off and entered designated lunar orbit, embarking on a three-week-long journey home.

The Chang’e-6 ascent vehicle, with its cargo of up to 2kg (4.4lbs) of specimens from the moon’s oldest impact basin, lifted off from the lunar surface early on Tuesday morning, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).