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(Yicai Global) Nov. 24 -- China today launched a spacecraft as the world's No. 1 attempt to return with soil samples from the moon in more than 40 years, also marking China's first try to collect samples from an extraterrestrial body.
A Long March-5 rocket, carrying the Chang'e-5 spacecraft, blasted off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in southern China at 4:30 a.m., Xinhua News Agency reported. The trip is expected to last more than 20 days.
“The mission will help promote China’s science and technology development, and lay an important foundation for China’s future manned lunar landing and deep space exploration,” said Pei Zhaoyu, deputy director of the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of the China National Space Administration.
Editor: Emmi Laine