Lunar probe has transferred samples for return trip to Earth

Complicated maneuvers come next, with Inner Mongolia landing set for late June

Lunar samples collected from the moon's far side by China's Chang'e 6 mission have been delivered to their final carrier, which will later bring them to Earth, according to the China National Space Administration.

After flying in a lunar orbit for about 56 hours, the sample-loaded ascender of the Chang'e 6 probe docked with the orbiter-reentry capsule combination at 2:48 pm on Thursday and then transferred a sealed container holding the precious lunar samples to the reentry capsule, the administration said.

The operation was the second automated rendezvous and docking of any spacecraft in lunar orbit. The first was made during the Chang'e 5 mission in December 2020.