Historic journey from Chang'e 6 lifts off

However, the unfolding mission will be much more difficult, challenging and riveting than the Chang'e 5 that landed on the lunar near side, and will definitely be recorded, no matter if it ends up a great success or unfortunate failure, as a symbol of audacious pioneering in the history of humankind's exploration of the final frontier.

Before it, humankind had fulfilled 10 lunar sample-return missions, but all of the samples were collected from the near side on the moon.

As one of China's, and also the world's, most significant space adventures this year, major steps in the Chang'e 6 mission have hit headlines on media around the globe and have attracted huge attention from the Chinese people.