RETURN OF CHINA’S CHANG’E-5 LUNAR SAMPLE RETURN MISSION, Dec 15-17?, 2020, Inner Mongolia

The sample return capsule from China’s Chang’e-5 lunar sample return mission is expected to land in Inner Mongolia around December 16, 2020 Beijing time.  Official Chinese sources have not provided details and give only the December 15-17 time period for landing. The goal was to collect 2 kilograms of lunar soil and rock by drilling and scooping. The spacecraft left lunar orbit on December 12 EST to head home.

Beijing Time is 13 hours ahead of EST so if the landing is on December 16 as widely rumored, it could be December 15 EST.

We will update this post when more information becomes available.