Moon samples land in China

Floating back to Earth, the first ever pieces of the moons unexplored far side as they thumped down on the Mongolian step. China not only achieved a scientific first but confirmed its position as a space superpower, a point reinforced by the planting of a flag next to the smoldering capsule. Chango 6 was China's 4th consecutive uncrewed landing on the three tonne probe, complete with roving camera platform landed in a deep crater near the lunar South Pole. Using a scoop and drill, it gathered lunar soil and rocks never before studied by human hands. Scientists visibly excited by what they might teach us. This is fantastic. It's one of those dreams that you have as a kid, the far side of the moon, the triggers a lot of imagination. Now humanity will have the chance to see whether there's actually anything different. On the other side, with respect to we know of the composition of the Moon soil, China Six was the most technically advanced of China's Moon missions, yet direct communication with the Moon's far side is limited. Many of its key tasks were completed autonomously, not just landing but boosting its samples back into orbit before the Ascender docked with return vehicle transferring the samples for their 230,000 mile journey back to Earth. China has plans for a robotic lunar base in partnership with Russia and others. The Artemis Generations, the direct competitor to NASA's plans, with its Artemis Moon programme supported by its allies. And having brought back rocks, it's not a giant leap logistically to take humans tykenauts to the moon. A new space race is afoot. Tom Clark, Sky News.