Tech Breakdown: A history of China's lunar exploration in 3 minutes

The ascender of China's Chang'e-6 probe lifted off from the lunar surface on June 4, carrying samples collected from the moon's far side, marking an unprecedented feat in human lunar exploration history.

July 20 marks International Moon Day. Follow the digital avatar of CGTN's reporter Guo Meiping to learn about the history of China's lunar exploration on this special day!

In 2004, China's lunar exploration program was officially named the Chang'e Program after the revered moon goddess in Chinese mythology. It involved a three-step plan: orbiting, landing and sample return. The first step was to develop China's lunar satellite and launch it into the moon's orbit.

In 2007, China launched its first lunar probe, Chang'e-1. The mission provided a comprehensive map of the moon's surface, unveiling previously unseen details.

In less than three years, Chang'e-2 entered a lunar orbit merely 100 kilometers from the moon. It provided a much clearer view of the lunar surface, capturing an image at an unprecedented resolution of seven meters, thereby producing the best moon map at that time.

China was then poised for the next step: landing.

In 2013, Chang'e-3 achieved a successful soft landing on the moon. China's first lunar rover, Yutu, or Jade Rabbit, left its mark on the lunar surface as well.

For the subsequent lunar landing mission, China set its sights on an even more ambitious destination – the far side of the moon.

Following the successful launch of China's relay satellite, Queqiao, to facilitate communications, the Chang'e-4 probe embarked on its journey. On January 3, 2019, Chang'e-4 made humanity's first soft landing on the far side of the moon. It carried the Yutu-2 rover to start its exploration of the uncharted territory.

In 2020, the Chang'e-5 lunar probe successfully retrieved about 1,731 grams of invaluable lunar samples, completing the world's first moon-sample mission in over four decades.

Four years later, a momentous event unfolded as the Chang'e-6 returner, carrying the world's first-ever samples from the far side of the moon, made a landing in northern China in June.

The country will continue its journey of lunar exploration with the Chang'e-7 and Chang'e-8 missions and unveil more mysteries of the moon.

Video editor: Zhang Rongyi

Cover image: Yu Peng