Robots in Space

CHANG’E-5

Chang’e-5 will be an unmanned Chinese Lunar Exploration mission, which will be landing on the moon in 2017. The mission will be a sample return one, which will return 2 kilograms of moon soil and rock samples back to Earth. The probe will be launched into orbit by the Long March 5 rocket from Hainan Island. By the assistance of landing cameras, optical cameras, a gas analyzing instrument, other sampling instruments, and a drilling rig; the probe will softly land on Moon’s surface and dig to collect lunar soil 2 meters below the surface. Once the probe has what it needs, it will launch back into orbit and return to Earth in a return module. Chang’e-3 and Chang’e-4 probes will be sent on a separate mission in 2015 to not return, but set the stage for Chang’e-5 successful mission of returning moon sample in 2017. Link