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On December 19, the Chang'e-5 Lunar Sample Handover Ceremony was held at the China National Space Administration (CNSA) in Beijing. Lunar samples were officially handed over to the ground application system of the lunar exploration program under the witness of CNSA and other research and test institutes. This marks the official transition of the Chang'e-5 mission from the implementation stage to a new stage of scientific research. Scientists will carry out the storage, analysis and research of the country's first samples collected from the extraterrestrial object.
Liu He, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, attended the handover ceremony and delivered a speech.
Liu said the congratulatory message General Secretary Xi Jinping sent to the event shows that the CPC Central Committee attaches great importance to scientific and technological innovation, as well as the aerospace business. The message also shows a way and proposes requirements for accelerating efforts to build China into a strong power in science and technology. All of us should conscientiously study, understand and thoroughly implement these requirements.
He said the Chang'e-5 mission had created "China's first" and world records in many aspects, marking the successful conclusion of the three-step lunar exploration program of orbiting and landing, and bringing back samples. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, this is another great victory secured by sticking to the path of innovation with Chinese characteristics, and is an important milestone in the journey of building China into a space power. He urged cooperative efforts for scientific research on lunar samples, contributing Chinese wisdom to deepen human understanding of the formation and evolution of the universe.
Scientific and technological work is about development and survival, so it is necessary to maintain a high sense of urgency, accelerate independent innovation, improve the effectiveness of development, pay close attention to the training of scientific and technological talents, and deepen international exchanges and cooperation, Liu emphasized. "We must highly value the innovation and improvement of incentive mechanisms, as well as popularize science education, and focus on cultivating the curiosity of young people and children", Liu added.
Lastly, he encouraged people at the ceremony to keep in mind the great trust General Secretary Xi Jinping has placed on them, make down-to-earth efforts while aiming higher, strive ahead and make more achievements during the process of building the country into a major force in science and technology, contributing much more to building a modern socialist country in all aspects.
At the handover ceremony, Zhang Kejian, Head of CNSA and Commander-in-Chief of China's Lunar Exploration Program, handed over the lunar sample container of Chang'e-5 and sample certificate to Hou Jianguo, President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Through preliminary weighing, the Chang'e-5 probe has retrieved about 1,731 grams of samples from the moon. After safe transfer of the samples to the lunar sample laboratory, researchers of the ground application system will carry out the storage, preparation, processing and scientific research of the lunar samples as planned.
CNSA will specifically issue administrative measures and follow-up policies for the lunar samples brought back by Chang'e-5, to arrange for management of lunar samples, coordinate and promote scientific research, encourage more scientists at home and abroad to participate, and strive to secure more scientific achievements. CNSA will also carry out public science popularization programs and cultural exchanges related to the mission.
Liu Shiquan, Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and General Manager of CASIC, attended the handover ceremony.
The Chang'e-5 probe was launched into orbit on November 24, and then experienced the stages of earth-moon transfer, braking at perilune, separation between two combinations, lunar landing, lunar surface drilling and sampling, liftoff from the moon, rendezvous and docking and sample transfer, lunar flight and waiting for the right time to return to Earth, moon-earth transfer, reentry and recovery. After 23-day in-orbit operation, the return capsule touched down on its preset landing site in Siziwang Banner of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on December 17, bringing back lunar samples from the moon. The successful landing marks the completion of the Chang'e-5 mission. Later, the return capsule of Chang'e-5 was safely transferred to Beijing. After opening of the capsule and related processing, the scientists successfully took out the lunar sample container.
