SpaceMiningData
SpacecraftMoonEnded

Chang'e-5

Chinese lunar sample-return mission launched on 24 November 2020 (Beijing time) that landed near Mons Ruemker in Oceanus Procellarum on 1 December 2020 and returned about 1,731 grams of surface and drilled samples on 17 December 2020. Lander spectra indicated up to 120 ppm water in the regolith (Lin et al. 2022), and a 2024 laboratory study of returned samples reported 51-76 mg of water generated per gram of regolith heated above 1,200 K from solar-wind hydrogen reacting with iron oxides (Chen et al. 2024); that is an Earth laboratory result, not extraction on the Moon.

Objective. Return lunar surface and drilled regolith samples; resource findings (water content and hydrogen-derived water production) come from later peer-reviewed analyses.

Listed for scientific context. This mission published a resource finding but is not counted as a resource mission.

Sampled

Facts

Kind
Spacecraft
Mission type
Sample return
Target
MoonNorthern Oceanus Procellarum, near Mons Ruemker
Launch
2020-11-24
Launch vehicle
Long March 5
Phase
EndedCNSA (2020-12-17 and 2020-12-19) report capsule landing and sample handover; launch date is Beijing time (23 Nov 2020 UTC).
Outcome
SuccessBasis: agency statement
Why it is included
Published resource finding (science context)

Outcome statement (agency statement)

China's Chang'e-5 probe retrieved about 1,731 grams of samples from the moon, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

Participants

Operators, payload owners, carriers and customers are recorded separately.

OrganizationRole
China National Space AdministrationOperator

Resources and evidence

ResourceEvidence
RegolithSampled
VolatilesDetected

Open evidence gaps

No open evidence gaps recorded for this record.

Sources

5 sources
  1. [1]China's Chang'e-5 retrieves 1,731 grams of moon samples
    CNSAGovernment recordPublished 2020-12-19Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: outcome, resources
    China's Chang'e-5 probe retrieved about 1,731 grams of samples from the moon, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  2. [2]Chang'e 5's reentry capsule lands with moon samples
    CNSA (China Daily)Government recordPublished 2020-12-17Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: launch date, launch vehicle
    The spacecraft was launched by a Long March 5 heavy-lift carrier rocket early on Nov 24 at the Wenchang Space Launch Center
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  3. [3]Chang'e 5's reentry capsule lands with moon samples
    CNSA (China Daily)Government recordPublished 2020-12-17Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: target site, summary
    Late on Dec 1, the lander-ascender combination landed on the moon
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  4. [4]In situ detection of water on the Moon by the Chang'E-5 lander (Lin et al., Science Advances 2022)
    Science Advances (via PubMed Central)Peer-reviewedPublished 2022-01-07Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: resources, inclusion basis
    We estimate up to 120 parts per million (ppm) of water
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  5. [5]Massive water production from lunar ilmenite through reaction with endogenous hydrogen (Chen et al., The Innovation 2024)
    The Innovation (via PubMed Central)Peer-reviewedPublished 2024-08-22Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: inclusion basis, summary
    Our findings suggest that the hydrogen retained in LR is a significant resource for obtaining
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.