LAUNCH OF CHINA’S CHANG’E-5 LUNAR SAMPLE RETURN MISSION, Nov 23, 2020, Hainan Island, China, 3:35 pm EST

Update, November 23, 8:10 am ET:  The European Space Agency, which is providing tracking support, says the launch is at 21:35 CET tonight, which is 3:35 pm EST.  China has not indicated if it will livestream the launch.

Original Entry: China says only that it plans to launch its long-awaited Chang’e-5 lunar sample return mission in late November, but experts on China’s space program believe it will take place on November 24, 2020 at the Wenchang Satellite Launch Complex on Hainan Island on a Long March 5 rocket.

Depending on the time of day, that could be November 23 or November 24 EST.

We will post more information if it becomes available.