China's Chang'e 6 mission safely returned to Earth with samples of rock and soil from the moon's far side, making it the first nation to do so. The probe touched down in the Inner Mongolian area of northern China.

Following the landing, Zhang Kejian, Director of the China National Space Administration, declared in a televised news conference that "I now declare that the Chang'e 6 Lunar Exploration Mission achieved complete success."

Chang'e 6's success crew and scientists received congratulations from Chinese President Xi Jinping. A "landmark achievement in our country's efforts at becoming a space and technological power," he praised the accomplishment.

The samples, according to Chinese experts, should contain volcanic rock that is 2.5 million years old as well as other materials that can provide light on the variations in location between the two sides of the moon.

"One of the most fundamental scientific questions in lunar science research: what geologic activity is responsible for the differences between the two sides?" is anticipated to be addressed by the samples. According to a statement published in Innovation Monday, a publication published in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zongyu Yue, a geologist at the academy, made the claim.

The moon's far side faces space, while its near side is visible from Earth. Mountains and impact craters are known to be present on the moon's far side, in contrast to the near side's comparatively flat regions.

With the recent launch of missions by Japan, India, and other countries, the exploration of the moon has gained prominence. Previously, samples from the near side of the moon were retrieved by nations such as the US and Russia (formerly the Soviet Union).

Amidst intensifying competition with the United States in other global domains, China is asserting its might in space technology as well.China has put its own space station into orbit and sends astronauts there on a regular basis.

After departing from Earth on May 3, the Chang'e 6 probe traveled for 53 days.