China blasts off on mission that could provide 1st samples of far side of the moon
China on Friday launched a lunar probe to land on the far side of the moon and return with samples that could provide insights into differences between the less-explored region and the better-known near side.
![China blasts off on mission that could provide 1st samples of far side of the moon](https://i.cbc.ca/1.7192823.1714738807!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/2150677691.jpg)
![A Long March 5 rocket, carrying the Chang'e-6 mission lunar probe, lifts off as it rains at the Wenchang Space Launch Centre in southern China's Hainan Province on May 3, 2024. A rocket is shown on a launch pad with fire and smoke shown around it.](https://i.cbc.ca/1.7192823.1714738807!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/2150677691.jpg)
China on Friday launched a lunar probe to land on the far side of the moon and return with samples that could provide insights into differences between the less-explored region and the better-known near side.