China launches rocket to far side of the Moon

China has launched a probe which intends to collect the first samples from the far side of the Moon.

An unmanned rocket carrying the Chang'e-6 probe blasted off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center at about 17:27 local time (10:27 BST).

The far side has an older crust with more craters, which scientists hope will make it more possible to collect material that sheds light on how the Moon was formed.

3 May 2024