After evaluation, 31 applications from 13 research institutions among the 85 applications from 23 organizations have been granted approval to study the first batch of lunar samples, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China University of Geosciences and Sun Yat-Sen University. According to China's Lunar Exploration Program under the China National Space Administration (CNSA), the next round of applications for evaluation is scheduled for September. /CFP

China starts the scientific research on samples collected by its Chang'e-5 probe after the first batch of 17.4764 grams of lunar soil is handed over by the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of China National Space Administration to scientists from 13 domestic institutions for 31 scientific projects, July 12, 2021. /CFP