China's Chang'e-6 Returns with Samples from Moon's Far Side

China's Chang'e-6 lunar probe has successfully taken off from the far side of the moon, carrying the first-ever samples collected from that region. The mission, celebrated as an unprecedented feat in lunar exploration, aims to return about 2kg of material to Earth in three weeks. The samples, collected from the Moon's South Pole–Aitken basin, could provide new insights into lunar geology and the potential for water on the Moon, crucial for future human bases. This marks China's second lunar sample return mission, following Chang'e-5 in 2020.