The Chinese probe on its way to Earth after its mission to the Moon - France 24

Beijing (AFP)

The Chinese probe Chang'e 5 left the surface of the Moon on Thursday to return to Earth, according to images broadcast by public television CCTV.

This is the first attempt to bring back lunar samples in more than 40 years.

The module, which arrived on the moon on Tuesday, left it at 11:10 p.m. Beijing time (1510 gmt) on Thursday, the channel said.

If the return to Earth goes smoothly, China will become the third country to bring back samples, after the United States and the former USSR.

The last attempt was Soviet, with the uninhabited Luna 24 mission successfully carried out in 1976.

This mission is the next step in the Chinese space program, which struck a big blow in early 2019 by landing a machine on the far side of the Moon, a world first.

© 2020 AFP