A Chinese spacecraft lands on the moon’s far side to collect rocks in growing space rivalry with US

BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese spacecraft has landed on the moon’s far side to collect rocks, in a growing space rivalry with U.S.

The official Xinhua News Agency says the landing module touched down Sunday morning Beijing time.

FILE – This photo provided on Jan. 12, 2019, by the China National Space Administration via Xinhua News Agency shows the lunar lander of the Chang’e-4 probe in a photo taken by the rover Yutu-2 on Jan. 11. China is preparing to launch a lunar probe Friday, May 3, 2024, that would land on the far side of the moon and return with samples that could provide insights into geological and other differences between the less-explored region and the better-known near side. (China National Space Administration/Xinhua News Agency via AP, File)

The mission is the sixth in the Chang’e moon exploration program and the second designed to bring back samples.

The moon program is part of a growing rivalry with the U.S. and others, including Japan and India, to explore space.

China has put its own space station in orbit and regularly sends crews there.

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